Compost at Work

• Large food generating businesses are required to have food scraps collection programs set up now. This includes grocery stores, food manufacturers and some larger restaurants, cafeterias and hotels. Contact us now to avoid fees for non-compliance.
• Contact Washington County [email protected] for more specific information about when your business will need to meet this requirement or how to set up your food scraps program now.

Thank you for being one of the 1,300+ businesses in the region that already composts! Please verify your business is in compliance with the requirement by filling out this brief questionnaire to let us know.

If you are interested in food donation or further reducing food waste, please email us [email protected].

If you already separate food waste from your garbage – such as sending it directly to a farm – you may currently be in compliance with this policy. Please email us [email protected] so we can update our records to reflect that your business is in compliance.

If your business is not categorized as a food generating business and you received notification about the requirement, email us [email protected] so we can update our records.

The same waste collection company that picks up your garbage and recycling will also pick up your food scraps.

• Tigard, Beaverton and unincorporated Washington County have bundled collection rates. This means that there is no additional fee for commercial food scraps collection provided by your garbage and recycling company.
• There is an additional fee in other jurisdictions. Visit your jurisdiction’s website or contact your garbage and recycling company for rate information.

It depends on the amount of food waste produced each week. Shared commissary kitchens are required but food carts and food trucks are not. Email us [email protected] for assistance.

• All types of food, including raw* and cooked meat, bones*, dairy, fruit and vegetable trimmings, grains, cooked food, spoiled food, plate leftovers, tea and coffee grounds can be included.
• There are three exceptions: Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) certified compostable bags that line your food scrap collection bins, coffee filters with coffee grounds and tea bags.
• Please do not include liquids, fats, oils or grease.

*Grocers and butchers should not include raw meat and bones in compost bins.

• No napkins, pizza boxes, to-go or take out containers, "compostable" or "biodegradable" products, utensils, gloves, straws, parchment paper, twist ties, or other garbage are allowed.
• Products that are sold as ‘compostable’ are not and cannot be processed in our local system regardless of the product labeling. Please keep these items out of your compost bins!
• Please do not include liquids, fats, oils or grease.

No. Contact your waste garbage and recycling company if you’d like to add commercial yard debris as a separate service.

Depending on your collection company, most of the County’s food scraps go to Recology Organics in Aumsville, OR, or Pacific Region Compost in Adair Village, OR. Once it’s gone through the composting process, it’s distributed for different types of uses including landscaping at public parks and sold in retail outlets.

• Fines can be assessed, and are set by each local jurisdiction.
• We recognize the challenges facing our food service businesses and will support you in meeting this requirement on a timeline that’s manageable for you. We are offering free assistance, bins and materials to get you set up and meet compliance deadlines.

Your collection company may leave an ‘oops tag’ on the bin or a notification that says your bins are regularly contaminated with non-food items. They might also choose to not pick up your bins or with an added fee, pick them up as trash if there is contamination. Contact your garbage and recycling company with questions if you notice a missed collection.

If your business hasn't had issues with odors or pests in the past, it's unlikely that you will now by simply separating food scraps from the garbage. Here are some recommendations to ensure your bins stay free of nuisances:

• Line your indoor containers with Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) certified bags.
• Rinse your internal collection bins regularly. Using a smaller bin or bucket can make it easier to rinse bins.
• Take out food scraps at least once a day or more since food waste can be heavy.
• Keep lids closed on outdoor containers at all times and place in a shaded areas.
• Make sure outdoor bins are getting picked up by your garbage and recycling company often enough.
• Rinse outdoor bins regularly or ask your garbage and recycling company to swap out compost bins annually. (There may be a fee.)
• If you run into challenges, our team can help by working with your collection company to change the size of your external bins or adjust collection frequency.

Most vendors and restaurant supply stores offer Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) certified compostable bags and are the only type of bag allowed in the food scraps collection. Plastic bags are not allowed. Contact us if you’d like more assistance or recommendations on where to source the BPI certified compostable bags.

We can offer training, tools, free resources and share best practices to reduce food waste at home and work.

Get started today and join the hundreds of other Washington County businesses that are already composting their food scraps!