You can still get a free kitchen compost bin for Sacramento food waste mandate. Here’s how

Those still looking for a cheap method to store their food scraps in between collection days can now take advantage of Sacramento’s extended free kitchen compost bin program.

Sacramento gave away more than 22,000 kitchen countertop compost bins between June and September, said Jesa David, a spokeswoman with the Sacramento Recycling and Solid Waste Division. The demand for the free pails was so high that the city ordered another 15,000 to give away by Oct. 14.

“(The pail) has a bunch of holes in the lid to irate those food scraps as they’re breaking down,” David said “and doesn’t generate the odor that people might expect having food decomposing in their kitchen.”

“It really doesn’t create the ick factor that we’re hearing about.”

How do I get a free counter top bin?

City residents can get a free counter top pail by registering through Sacramento’s website and confirming their city address.

Residents will then be guided to a registration form where they’ll choose a pickup date and location from seven community centers. The participating Sacramento centers include:

• Joe Mims, Jr. Hagginwood Community Center - 3271 Marysville Blvd.
• South Natomas Community Center - 2921 Truxel Road
• Ethel MacLeod Hart Senior Center - 915 27th St.
• Oak Park Community Center - 3425 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd.
• George Sim Community Center - 6207 Logan St.
• Sam & Bonnie Pannell Community Center - 2450 Meadowview Road
• Coloma Community Center - 4623 T St.

Residents should bring their confirmation (paper or digital) when picking up their bin. Pails are limited to one per household.

Along with a free compost bin, residents will be given a roll of compostable bags and an informational brochure on how to compost food scraps at home.

The program ends Friday, Oct. 14.

COUNTERTOP BINS FOR COUNTY RESIDENTS

Sacramento County residents — excluding those living Folsom, Elk Grove, Rancho Cordova or Citrus Heights — can also snag a free two-gallon countertop pail. Cities in the county have their own programs.

The county has one location and several kitchen pail giveaway events starting Sept. 28, through Nov. 20.

Here’s where to get a free counter top bin (excluding holidays) while supplies last. Unincorporated county residents are limited to one pail per household:

• 10863 Gold Center Drive, Rancho Cordova, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday

Here are Sacramento County’s five kitchen pail giveaway events through Nov. 20. for residents who receive waste and recycling collection service through the county:

• Saturday, Sept. 24: Florin Historical Society at 7145 McComber St., 9 a.m. to noon
• Saturday, Oct. 1: Rosemont Community Park at 9326 Americana Way, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Thursday, Oct. 20: Orangevale Farmer’s Market at 6826 Hazel Ave., 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Saturday, Nov. 5: Sheldon High School at 8333 Kingsbridge Drive, 9 a.m. to noon

• Sunday, Nov. 20: Carmichael Park Farmer’s Market at 5750 Grant Ave., 9a.m. to noon

Residents are limited to one pail per household. “Bring your utility bill or a 2022-2023 service guide to confirm your address,” the county wrote on its website.

Do I have to use a countertop bin?

Countertop waste bins are small enough to fit comfortably on most counters and are traditionally used to help cookers collect compostable food scraps.

The containers also work for the everyday person trying to cut down on landfill waste.

The free counter top bin “best fits up to a three-gallon compostable bag” but can be used without one. Paper can also be lined inside of the bin.

When it’s time to toss your collected food scraps in your outside compost bin, using a compostable bag or layering the food waste with yard trimmings or food-soiled paper will reduce or eliminate odor and pests.

“The kitchen pail is not required for recycling organics but intended to help customers transition into recycling food scraps at home,” the city wrote on its website.

The countertop compost bin is just one of several ways to collect organic waste for pickup in Sacramento.

You can store food scraps in the freezer or refrigerator and wait to put them in the yard waste container until the night before collection. The county suggest emptying your food scraps in an empty coffee can or tube, plastic bucket or bowl — just as long as it has a lid if you don’t plan to empty the scraps daily.

Similar containers can be found online.

What are the new waste rules?

City residents living in apartment buildings of five units or more should’ve been recycling their organic waste in property-provided bins since the beginning of the year, according to the city of Sacramento.

City residents living in single-family homes and duplexes up to fourplexes were mandated to start recycling their organic waste in July.

Residents who don’t comply with the new organic waste mandate could see fines up to $500, but not starting until 2024. Until then, the city will be focused on educating its residents about the ins and outs of separating their organic waste material correctly.

Residents living in the unincorporated part of Sacramento County who receive curbside green waste service are required to toss their organic food and green waste material into green waste carts (or organics cart) for weekly pick up, according to the county’s waste management and recycling page.

What goes in my organics bin?

Before tossing any organic waste material into the bin, remove stickers, twist ties and rubber bands from the produce.

Here’s what should be recycled as organic food and green waste material, according to the county website, which is the same for the city’s:

• Fruit
• Vegetables
• Bread
• Cereal
• Dairy
• Meat (including bones)
• Shells
• Coffee grounds
• Paper coffee filters
• Tea bags
• Food soiled paper: paper towels and napkins, paper plates, greasy pizza boxes, paper lunch bags
• Food scraps: moldy food, leftovers, rotting food
• Green waste: branches, grass, leaves, tree trimmings, prunings

Here’s what shouldn’t go into the bin, according to the website:

• Plastic bags
• Styrofoam
• Takeout containers
• Utensils
• Glass
• Metal
• Liquids
• Pet waste
• Water hoses

Pet waste shouldn’t be placed in your organics bin. The city strongly suggests people continue to place their pet waste and cat litter in garbage bins.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated with a new Sacramento County bin pickup location and pickup time.

This story was originally published September 20, 2022 at 5:00 AM.