Food Waste Composting in Seattle: The Political Perspective

Abstract

Over the course of two decades, organics collection in Seattle (population 620,778) evolved from a limited yard waste collection service initiated in 1989 to a comprehensive and mandatory residential curbside food and yard waste collection system established in 2011. This development was not the result of state pressure, as the State of Washington has no waste reduction mandate. Instead curbside compostables collection in Seattle was propelled by the skyrocketing landfill disposal costs and bolstered by elected officials and city staff who were committed to waste reduction. Also working in its favor, Seattle had a local yard waste processing plant that was able to integrate food waste, as well as a solid waste utility supported by a PAYT (pay as you throw) system. Trash disposal fee-based incentives, paired with a zero waste resolution and a participation mandate for single- and multi-family residences, have increased Seattle’s composting levels and helped the city achieve one of the highest per capita compostables collection rates in the nation.

This was adapted from Judith A. Layzer and Alexis Schulman. (2014). “Municipal Curbside Compostables Collection: What Works and Why?” Work product of the Urban Sustainability Assessment (USA) Project, Department of Urban Studies and Planning, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.