Top Composting & Food Waste in Sammamish, Washington Ranked

For restaurants and food service businesses in Sammamish, managing organic waste is no longer just an environmental consideration-it's a legal requirement. Washington State's ambitious organics recycling law, SB 1383, mandates that commercial entities, including all restaurants, separate their food scraps and compostable materials for collection. This initiative is designed to dramatically reduce landfill waste and its associated methane emissions. In Sammamish, this program is facilitated through a partnership with the city's designated waste hauler, Republic Services, which provides the containers and weekly pickup necessary for compliance. Understanding the specifics of container types, acceptable materials, and scheduling is the first step toward seamless participation in Sammamish's organics diversion efforts.

Cedar Grove Composting

21902 76th Dr SE, Woodinville, WA 98072

Cedar Grove Composting is based in Bothell, WA, specializing in food waste and composting services for restaurants and other clients. They recycle large amounts of yard and food waste into compost annually, serving the Puget Sound region with delivery options and retail sales of bulk soil and landscape materials. The company also offers compostable packaging products for commercial and residential use. Delivery services include options for shared pickups within a two-mile radius, with additional blower and slinger truck services available through third parties.

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Understanding Washington's SB 1383 for Sammamish Businesses

The driving force behind commercial food waste recycling in Sammamish is Washington State's Senate Bill 1383. This law sets forth stringent requirements for businesses to separate organic materials-primarily food scraps and food-soiled paper-from their general garbage stream. The goal is to achieve a 75% reduction in statewide organic waste disposal by 2030 ¹. For Sammamish restaurants, this isn't a voluntary sustainability program; it's a mandatory component of your waste management operations.

The law applies specifically to businesses that generate a certain volume of organic waste. Currently, the threshold is set at four cubic yards or more of combined food and yard waste per week ^{1 2}. It's important for restaurant owners to assess their waste output, as this law is being phased in, with requirements ramping up through 2024 and 2025. While exemptions are theoretically possible-for instance, if a business can provide documentation proving it generates minimal organics or lacks the physical space for additional containers-these are granted on a case-by-case basis and require formal approval ^{3 4}. For the vast majority of food service establishments, planning for compliance is essential.

Service Details for Sammamish Restaurants

Sammamish has contracted with Republic Services to handle all municipal solid waste, recycling, and now, organics collection. This centralized system simplifies the process for local businesses.

Container Types and Setup: When you set up service, Republic Services will provide separate carts for garbage, recycling, and organics. The organics cart (often a green bin) is designated specifically for food waste and compostable materials. Restaurants typically require larger container sizes than residential customers, such as 64-gallon or 96-gallon carts, or even dumpster service, depending on the volume of food waste generated ^{5 6}. It's crucial to discuss your specific needs with Republic Services to ensure you have adequate capacity for weekly pickups.

Weekly Collection Schedule: Organics collection for commercial customers in Sammamish occurs on a weekly basis ^{5 6}. It's vital to coordinate your pickup day with Republic Services and ensure your green cart is accessible at the curb or designated service area by the scheduled time. Adhering to the schedule helps avoid missed pickups and potential overflow issues.

What Goes In the Green Organics Cart: Proper sorting is key to a successful program. Acceptable materials include:

• All food scraps (including meat, bones, dairy, and moldy food)
• Food-soiled paper products (like napkins, paper towels, and uncoated paper plates)
• Certified compostable serviceware (plates, cups, utensils marked as BPI-certified)
• Coffee grounds and filters
• Loose tea leaves and tea bags (without staples) ^{5 6 7}

Critical Contamination Rules: The most important rule is to keep all plastic out of the green cart. This includes plastic bags, wrappers, and packaging. Plastics do not break down in the composting process and can ruin entire batches of compost, leading to potential service issues or fees ^{5 7}. Even bags labeled as "biodegradable" are typically not accepted in Sammamish's curbside program.

Costs and Billing for Organics Recycling

A common question from business owners is about the cost of adding organics recycling. In Sammamish, the fees for organics collection are not a separate city charge but are integrated into your overall commercial waste bill from Republic Services ^{5 8}. Your total monthly cost is typically based on the size of your containers (garbage, recycling, and organics) and the frequency of collection.

Because every restaurant's needs are different-varying by size, customer volume, and menu-the pricing is customized. The most effective way to get a clear picture of the cost for your establishment is to contact Republic Services directly for a quote. They can assess your current waste stream and recommend a service plan that meets both your operational needs and the state's legal requirements ^{5 6}.

How to Get Started and Find More Information

Taking the first steps toward compliance is straightforward. The primary point of contact for Sammamish businesses is Republic Services. You can visit their dedicated Sammamish portal on the WMNorthwest website or call their customer service line to initiate service, request additional containers, or get answers to specific questions ^{5 6}.

For official city guidelines and a deeper understanding of local rules, the City of Sammamish provides a comprehensive Solid Waste FAQ resource on its website ⁸. Additionally, the city's Sustainable Sammamish guide offers valuable context on the community's broader sustainability goals, which include robust organics recycling ⁷.

By proactively engaging with these resources, Sammamish restaurant owners can turn a regulatory requirement into an operational advantage, reducing their environmental footprint and contributing to a cleaner, more sustainable community.

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