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1. Can I put food waste into my yard debris container and have it picked up by my garbage hauler?

Yes! Beginning October 1, 2019, customers who have residential garbage service will have the option to put food waste in their yard debris bin instead of in the garbage. Even if you compost at home, the yard debris bin is a great option for items that cannot go in your home compost, such as meat and bones. This citywide program comes after a successful three-year residential curbside food waste collection pilot program that included 1,500 households in four Eugene neighborhoods. The mixed food waste and yard debris will be turned into nutrient-rich compost by local processors. For more information, check out our Curbside Compost Program page or call 541-682-5655.

2. Why should I use a yard debris cart?

The yard debris cart provides a convenient method to have your material composted if you choose not to compost on-site. Many residents put diseased plant material in the yard debris cart with the understanding that the hot compost piles at the large compost facility can destroy all plant pathogens. It may also reduce your garbage bill if, by taking bulky plant materials out of your garbage container, you are able to reduce the size of your service.

And beginning October 1, 2019, customers citywide who have residential garbage service will have the option to also put food waste in their yard debris bin instead of in the garbage. This citywide program comes after a successful three-year residential curbside food waste collection pilot program that included 1,500 households in four Eugene neighborhoods. The mixed food waste and yard debris will be turned into nutrient-rich compost by local processors. And even if you are already a backyard composter, with this program, you can put items in your bin that should not go in your backyard compost pile like meat, bones, dairy, and grains.

3. What materials can go in my yard debris cart?

If it grows, it goes. Acceptable materials include:

• Branches up to 4 inches in diameter
• Garden and fruit tree discards
• Grass clippings
• Leaves
• Plants, even diseased and poisonous
• Root wads
• Small stumps

Beginning October 1, 2019, customers who have residential garbage service will have the option to put food waste in their yard debris bin instead of in the garbage. Acceptable materials include all food:

• Meat, bones, poultry, and seafood
• Dairy
• Eggshells
• Beans
• Bread
• Pasta, rice and other grains
• Fruits and vegetables
• Coffee grounds (no filters) and
• Other plate scrapings.

If you can eat it, you can put it in the bin.

This citywide program comes after a successful three-year residential curbside food waste collection pilot program that included 1,500 households in four Eugene neighborhoods. The mixed food waste and yard debris will be turned into nutrient-rich compost by local processors.

4. What items cannot go in the yard debris cart?

Items that should not be placed in the debris cart include:

• Dirt
• Food scraps/li>
• Garbage
• Metal
• Painted / treated lumber
• Pet waste
• Plastics, including compostable plastics
• Rocks

Food waste should not be placed in yard waste bins unless your household has been selected to participate in the residential food waste collection pilot, which consists of four pilot test areas, totaling 1,500 households in Eugene. However, beginning October 1, 2019, residential customers citywide will have the option to put food waste in their yard debris bin instead of in the garbage. Acceptable materials include all food, meat, bones, poultry, seafood, dairy, eggshells, beans, bread, pasta, rice and other grains, fruits and vegetables, coffee grounds, and other plate scrapings. If you can eat it, you can put it in the bin. Items such as utensils, plates, and bowls that are labeled as compostable or non-food items that are labeled biodegradable are not allowed in the food waste/yard debris bin. Only food and yard debris will be accepted.

5. How often is yard debris collected?

Every-other-week. Check with your hauler for a schedule.

6. Why should I use my yard debris cart for leaves, instead of putting them in the street?

The best way to handle leaves is to use them on-site. As a second choice, use your yard debris cart. Both of these methods provide greater economic and environmental benefits to residents of Eugene. As a last resort, place them in the street. Since collection occurs only twice in each area during a two month period, leaves left in the street can cause hazards for bicycles and clog storm drains. If you have more leaves than your yard debris cart can handle with one collection, store leaves on site wrapped in a tarp and use the yard debris cart over multiple collection cycles to compost all your leaves. This reduced the need for city services, saving our city time and money.

7. What does yard debris removal cost?

For most residential customers, the cost is included in your basic collection rate. If you have a 20 gallon container weekly, or a 32 gallon container monthly, yard debris is an additional charge of $3.55 per month.

8. Can I have more than one container?

Yes. Additional containers for yard debris cost $2.65 per month.

9. If I don’t have garbage service, can I still get yard debris service?

Yes. The cost for yard debris service by itself is $4.80 per month.