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PDD - Recycling and Solid Waste - Commercial Food Waste Collection

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1. How does the program work?

Commercial customers are now able to separate meat, bones, fish, dairy, baked goods, fruits and vegetables, food-soiled paper, yard debris, waxed cardboard, and plant trimmings from garbage service. Eugene haulers pick up the food scraps and take them to a local organics processor for conversion into compost. Businesses can contact their garbage hauler to sign up for commercial food composting service. The garbage hauler provides businesses with free internal food waste bins and a food waste collection container and arrange a collection frequency that fits the needs of the business.

2. What is the City’s role?

The City provides employee training services to businesses at no cost. The City’s Love Food Not Waste Outreach Coordinator will meet with businesses on-site to deliver employee training and provide technical assistance. Training will include free instructional materials for employees on how to source separate organics. Participating businesses will also have the opportunity to gain recognition for their sustainable efforts with marketing materials provided by the City.

3. Why compost?

Find a comprehensive answer to this question.

4. Who else is doing it?

There are over 60 food waste collection programs in the Northwest (Washington, Idaho, Oregon). Local area organics processors include Rexius Sustainable Solutions, who accept all commercial food waste in addition to specified compostable containers, and Lane Forest Products, who accept only commercial food waste. Both of the compost facilities in Eugene were recently certified by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality to process commercial food waste into compost.

5. What’s the cost?

Rates for commercial food waste collection are set at 20% below commercial garbage rates. By subscribing to commercial food waste collection service, businesses should be able to downsize their regular garbage container size and decrease the number of garbage pick-ups each week.

The City of Eugene provides free materials and resources to participating businesses. These resources were funded through solid waste license fees and a Waste Prevention Fund grant from Lane County Waste Management.

6. How can I learn more about the campaign?

You can stay current with the Love Food Not Waste campaign in several ways:
• Visit our website.
• Follow our Facebook page.
• Read the Oregon Daily Emerald article, or
• Watch the KVAL Channel 13 news piece.

7. Are the Love Food Not Waste resources available to other communities and jurisdictions?

Absolutely. Graphic and vector files of all Love Food Not Waste promotional materials have been compiled into a compendium of resources and are available and replicable for other jurisdictions to use. Here is the list of resources available on our Commercial Food Waste Resources page:

• Bin stickers for 23-gallon ‘slim jim’ style containers
• Window clings for businesses
• Love Food Not Waste icon and logo
• Font and color standards
• Web banner
• 11x17 poster for businesses
• Employee Training Manual
• Informational flier
• Other zero waste signage for businesses

To receive a camera-ready copy of these documents, email the Love Food Not Waste Outreach Coordinator or call 541-682-5651.

8. Which businesses compost in Eugene?

There are more than 80 businesses that participate in Love Food Not Waste, including grocery stores, restaurants, office buildings, and schools. View a complete list of participating businesses.

9. What types of compostable plastics are allowed in the program?

Find a comprehensive answer to this question.

10. Are there soil tests done on the compost to ensure that it is safe for planting?

Yes. Rexius tests the Love Food Not Waste compost monthly to ensure that it is safe for planting. All tests have come back with flying colors. There is also slightly more nitrogen in this compost when compared with yard debris compost because of the high energy food that goes into it. For more information about the soil test or to receive a copy of the information, please contact the Love Food Not Waste Outreach Coordinator or call 541-682-5652.

11. What happens with the finished compost?

Rexius Sustainable Solutions sells the finished compost to anyone interested in purchasing it. They have also donated loads to different area community gardens, benefiting individuals that are a part of the GrassRoots Garden, Huerto de la Familia, and the Faith Center Garden. For more information, feel free to contact them directly: 541-342-1835.

12. Which haulers are involved in food waste diversion?

The three primary haulers that work with the City and the commercial composters are:

• LaneApex,
• Royal Refuse, and
• Sanipac.

Don’t forget to thank them and give them a wave the next time you see them out around town!