New year, new leaf: How to easily turn your holiday food waste into Sacramento compost

Let’s face it. Your festive feasts this holiday season will generate food waste and contribute to our growing pollution from landfills.

Luckily for residents of the Sacramento area, those who want to live more sustainably can turn their food scraps into part of the solution — that is, by diverting those scraps from the garbage and putting them into the compost, or an organics, bin.

Why should you go through the trouble and make life more complicated? For one, it helps fight climate change. It’s also the law.

When food waste decomposes in landfills, it generates significant levels of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that scientists say is fueling extreme temperatures. Turning organic material into nutrient-rich compost gives it a new life as plant food.

Sacramento’s 2022 curbside organics recycling program mandates that residents dispose of their food scraps, soiled paper and yard waste in the green waste bin. In fact, all residents of Sacramento County are required to separate organics from trash.

“We need to keep organics out of the landfill,” said Brenda Bongiorno, waste and recycling public information officer for the county. “That’s partly because it’s a law, but also because it reduces methane production, extends our landfill capacity, and it turns organics into a beneficial compost.”

For now, you won’t be penalized for neglecting these duties. But here are some tips to make composting part of your holiday traditions. And don’t forget the county’s tree recycling program on Jan 4-5.

Step 1: Pick a container, any container

Keep a small bin or bucket in your kitchen for collecting food scraps.

You may have a free bin from the city lying around, but anything works if you’re keeping it on the counter or in the fridge. Keeping it in the freezer when not actively cooking or cleaning is another good option.

Step 2: Put the right things in it

As you’re cooking or cleaning up, take an extra second to ponder whether the thing you’re about to throw in the garbage can be turned into compost.

Things that should go into your organics pail include: fruit and vegetable peels, coffee grounds, meat scraps, bones, egg shells, dairy, rotting food and even soiled napkins or other soiled paper products.

Yard waste like tree and grass trimmings, clean lumber and other wood can also go in.

What should not go into your organics pail: plastics, unsoiled paper and glass (which should be recycled), liquid of any kind, parchment or wax paper, animal or pet waste, cat litter, coated paper cartons, styrofoam (obviously).

Check out Sacramento’s waste management team website for more tips.

Step 3: Keep it fresh

Compostable liner bags go a long way to keeping your compost bin fresh and clean. Line your kitchen pail with one and take it out when it gets full just like your trash. Use a lid to contain smells.

Squeeze or drain the liquid out of your food waste before putting it into the bin. Layering yard waste with food waste keeps things moist but not soggy in the curbside bin.

Step 4: Take it out

Transfer your accumulated scraps to the green curbside bin, including compostable plastic bags if you’re using them. If you lined your compost bag with a regular plastic bag, it belongs in the garbage.

Once collected, these materials are transported to a composting facility, where they are broken down and transformed into a valuable soil used across the county in agriculture and landscaping.

Finally, take advantage of the free compost you helped create for your garden at any of the county’s self-service locations.