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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Friday, May 16, 2008 Scraps too good for trash, Arlington says The city wants to start a program to collect and compost waste from restaurants and stores. By Gale Fiege Herald Writer ARLINGTON -- The city wants restaurants to clean their plates, but not into the garbage. Eateries, grocery stores, espresso stands and institutional kitchens are being asked to take recycling a step further by participating in a food-waste program. Food scraps, food-soiled paper and other materials such as plant and wood scraps can be used to make compost, city utilities manager James Kelly said. The city has identified about 125 businesses that can participate in the recycling program, and will begin telling them about the program in June. Demonstrations are planned during the July Arlington Street Fair as well, Kelly said. A $21,000 state Department of Ecology grant will help fund the start of the program. Free assistance to businesses includes education, special decals that help business owners advertise their participation and distribution of special biodegradable bags to contain the food waste. Additionally, the grant may help pay for some of the costs for a month for participating businesses, Kelly said. Separating and managing food waste can result in lower garbage costs to businesses and institutions, Kelley said. A typical restaurant's waste includes about 65 percent compostable material, 30 percent recyclables such as glass, steel, aluminum and cardboard and about 5 percent other waste, Kelly said. A single restaurant can dispose of more than 40 tons of compostable waste in a year, he said. The environmental benefit of the program is that garbage dumps won't fill up quite as fast and the food waste will have a second life as compost at Cedar Grove, a composting facility in Everett. "It's an exciting program for the city and a great way to promote environmental stewardship," Kelly said. "We're looking forward to its success." The waste material includes meat, poultry, fish, egg and dairy products, table and kitchen food scraps, fruits and vegetables, bread, coffee grounds and filters. It also includes uncoated take-out containers, paper towels and napkins and many paper plates and cups. Yard waste, wood and plants also can be part of the program. The program isn't open to residential customers, but the city is looking into providing that service through Waste Management. For more information about the city's commercial food waste recycling program, call 360-403-3505. Reporter Gale Fiege, 425-339-3427 or gfiege@heraldnet.com.

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