Food scraps and yard waste can be composted in Kitsap CountyMost single-family homes can subscribe to curbside compost service from their service provider. Compostables are turned into soil products at a privately-owned composting facility in Belfair, WA. Enter your address into our interactive curbside composting map to learn if your single-family home can receive curbside composting service. If your home is not eligible, you'll be prompoted to submit a form letting us know you're interested. Questions about composting? Email solidwaste@co.kitsap.wa.us or call Kitsap1 at 360.337.5777. |  |
Which items can I compost in my cart?
Food scraps, yard waste, and some paper products
Food scraps (including meat, dairy, and seafood), napkins, paper towels, coffee filters, and yard waste are easy to compost. Remove shiny paper labels, stickers, plastic, metal, and glass. Don't put dirt or rocks in your compost cart.
Print a curbside composting guide to use in your home.
Be careful composting the following items
The items below require extra care. Please follow the instructions next to each item to make sure you don't contaminate the compost with plastic or metal.
Which items can't be composted?
Compostable or biodegradable "plastic" serviceware, cups
Not composted locally - put in the garbage. Our local composting facility does not accept these items. These are commonly found in Seattle and on ferries, and are often labeled "CEDAR GROVE." Includes take-out containers, take-out wrappers, compostable cups, and utensils.
Cooking oil and grease
Put cooled grease in a can with a lid and put in your garbage. You can recycle cooking oil for free at all county recycling facilities.
Pet waste and litter
Bag and put in the garbage.
Glass, plastic, and metal
These damage composting equipment, ruin compost, and put compost users in danger. Recycle or toss appropriately.
My yard waste cart is labeled "Yard Waste Only." Can I put food in it?
Yes, as long as you follow these instructions and prevent any glass, plastic, or metal contamination.
Where can I buy certified compostable bags?
BPI certified compostable bags are sold in Kitsap County grocery and home stores near the garbage bags or in the natural home products section. Or find them online by searching for
BPA-certified compostable bags.
BPI certified compostable bags are optional. You can also put food scraps directly into your cart or into a paper bag.
What food srap container should I use in my kitchen?
Any sturdy container will work. Some people like small containers that they empty frequently, while others like larger containers that hold lots of scraps. To reduce odor, use a container you can store in your freezer or fridge.
Plastic ice cream buckets, metal or plastic coffee cans, or food storage containers are great inexpensive options. You can also purchase
manufactured countertop compost containers online and in local home goods stores.
Why is composting food scraps important?
Keep valuable resources out of the landfill. Around 42% of what the average Washington home trashes is organic waste that could have been composted.
Reduce energy and emissions from transportation. Garbage generated in Kitsap County travels over 300 miles to a landfill in Oregon, but composting is done locally in Belfair, WA.
Keep nutrients available. Compost is shown to increase crop yields, clean toxic stormwater runoff, and repair damaged soils.
Reduce greenhouse gas. Food scraps don't rot normally in the landfill because of the low oxygen conditions. Instead they produce methane gas, a potent greenhouse gas.
I don't produce many food scraps and I have a small yard - is this worth it?
Food scraps are heavier than other types of waste, so it takes lots of energy to transport them to the landfill. Sending even a small amount to the local composting facility makes a difference.
If you have a small yard and cannot fill your container with yard waste, consider teaming up with a neighbor to split the cost of a single compost cart.