Seattle OKs $1 fine for adding too much food to garbage bins

[GraceKrispy]

Doesn't the trash have to be bagged (unlike recyclables)? So how do they do a cursory glance as they dump it? I live in an apartment, coming from a house, and I don't see where I can put any compost here. In the house, I had a compost bin, of course, and used it.

[Hemlock140]

Originally Posted by gkrispy

Doesn't the trash have to be bagged (unlike recyclables)? So how do they do a cursory glance as they dump it? I live in an apartment, coming from a house, and I don't see where I can put any compost here. In the house, I had a compost bin, of course, and used it.

No, it doesn't have to be bagged, but also, bags break, and when the truck crushes them they can see what is in them. Because the fine is a minor revenue producer, and the cost of separating to the garage company (labor) is significant, they have most likely been trained on how to scan the contents. The city allows for food waste in the garbage if bagged, I can't imagine how the collector would know to remove it.

From SPU:
Extra food waste

Food waste is allowed only in your City-provided cart. If your City-provided cart is full, you can store it for the next collection or bag it and put it in the garbage.

[kanhawk]

So, Tommy, what do you want to be when you grow up? A Fireman? An Astronaut?
No! I want to work for the city and dig through people's garbage to make sure they aren't throwing too much food in there!
Wowza Tommy! That's sounds like an exciting career.

[Finnish]

I don't wanna comment this topic as such...but I have one story to tell...one of my colleague lived in Switzerland few years ago and he put (accidentally) his recycling rubbish to wrong rubbish bin, and next morning his rubbish bag was front of his door...as somebody mentioned neighbors might be watching you...

[angelenogirl]

When we first visited Seattle, the VRBO we stayed in came with a laminated booklet detailing how to deal with trash. I'd never encountered that level of material about waste disposal. It was a bit overwhelming, as I come from a place where people are far more concerned with plastic in faces than in garbage cans. I really tried, but I ended up happily paying whatever fine I incurred for screwing it up. Better than standing in front of three trash bins with a straw wrapper desperately trying to remember where it should go (and then just leaving it on the counter for my husband).