Food scraps and yard debris will go to Recology’s Nature’s Needs compost facility in North Plains, which uses specialized processes to quickly break down the organic matter and create compost. The compost is then sold to gardeners, landscapers and other agricultural users.
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At this time, the service is not available to multifamily communities with shared container collection service — apartments, condominiums or townhome communities of more than four units. Only garbage company customers with access to yard debris collection service are able to participate.
Worm bin composting can be a great way to start composting at home with limited space! Check out Metro's Worm Composting page for more information.
There is no change to the rates currently charged for garbage, recycling and composting service.
The program is for food and yard debris only, including: meats, poultry, seafood, bones, dairy, bread, fruit, vegetables, cheese, eggshells, rice, beans, pasta, coffee grounds, and plate scrapings.
Do not include non-food items such as plastic, coffee cups, pet waste, fireplace ashes etc.
Most materials labeled “compostable” are not allowed in our current composting program. This includes take-out containers, cups and service ware. Most “compostable” products do not break down fast enough for our local composting facility to process.
You do not need to use a liner of any kind; the material can go loose into your compost cart. If you do decide to use a liner, we encourage you to try newspaper first. BPI-certified compostable liners are the only compostable liners permitted for use in your kitchen pail.
Unlike other “compostable” items, BPI-certified liners have been proven to break down in our local processing facility. Please use them sparingly and never use plastic bags.
To find a list of local stores that sell approved liners, please visit our tips page.
No, plastic bags of any kind are not allowed in the curbside compost program. Plastic does not compost and it is very difficult to remove once it is mixed with food scraps and yard debris. Nobody wants plastic particles in their compost, please leave the plastic out!
Your garbage hauler will distribute a two-gallon kitchen pail, along with instructions, for you to use. The kitchen pail is a one-time only distribution to get the program started. If you need a new pail in the future, you may select an alternative container like a large yogurt tub or bowl. Compost pails are also available at many retail stores.
Beaverton residents are encouraged to participate, but the composting program is not required.
Garbage, recycling, and composting roll-carts will all be picked up weekly by your current franchised hauler.
To minimize odors in the future, layer food scraps with yard debris trimmings. You may also consider using approved compostable bags, or wrapping food scraps in paper products (such as paper bags). We also encourage you to set out your cart every week to ensure it is emptied regularly. Visit www.BeavertonOregon.gov/composts for more tips.
Yes. No matter how full your composting roll-cart is, the city encourages you to set out your cart each week. The 60-gallon composting cart helps accommodate large quantities of yard debris during high debris seasons, and can deter animals from getting into and/or knocking over the cart.
Collecting food scraps in a reusable container in the kitchen is an easy way to save leftovers for your green cart. Coffee cans, plastic food storage containers or compost kitchen pails can be used. If you choose to collect food scraps using paper products, you can place them directly in your cart! For example:
To reduce odors in your kitchen, residents in some communities freeze food scraps like meat, poultry and fish in a reusable container until it’s time to take scraps to your cart.
Like garbage, your food scraps and yard debris will be collected weekly, thus minimizing pest issues.
Residents who compost in their backyard are encouraged to continue doing so. However, with the new food and yard debris collection service, many items that should not be composted in the backyard — such as meat, bones, dairy and grains — can now go in the composting roll cart.
Beaverton residents set-out about 9,000 tons of yard debris in 2016. We estimate that about 2,500 tons of food scraps are currently put into the garbage each year, (which is about 225 pounds per yard debris roll-cart annually).