Tacoma launches new food waste recycling service Little brown kitchen buckets for collecting food scraps will arrive on the doorsteps of Tacoma's 54,000 single-family homes in April, marking the launch of Solid Waste Management's new food waste recycling service. According to Solid Waste Management's 2009 waste audit, food waste makes up one-third (approximately 14,000 tons) of the garbage generated from Tacoma's single-family households annually. "Our new food waste recycling service offers customers the ability to reduce their garbage and allows us to recycle material that would otherwise go into the landfill," said Jetta Antonakos, food waste recycling program manager. As soon as customers receive their bucket, they can voluntarily begin recycling food waste at no additional charge. How it works: 1. Collect food scraps in little brown bucket 2. Empty food scraps into big brown yard waste container 3. Set out yard waste container at the curb for collection What's accepted: * Fruit and vegetables * Leftovers/kitchen scraps * Breads, grains, pasta, cereal * Meat, poultry, seafood (including bones) * Dairy and eggs (including shells) Find more information at www.TacomaRecycles.org<http://www.TacomaRecycles.org> or call Solid Waste Management, (253) 591-5543. About City of Tacoma Solid Waste Management Part of Public Works Environmental Services, Solid Waste Management provides garbage and recycling services for single-family residential homes, multi-family units and commercial businesses. The utility also operates a full-service landfill/transfer center, recycling center and household hazardous waste facility as well as a popular residential bulk item disposal service, Call-2-Haul. Learn more at www.TacomaRecycles.org<http://www.TacomaRecycles.org>. Elle (Michelle) Warmuth, APR City of Tacoma | Community Relations Office 733 Market St. Rm. 11 | Tacoma, WA 98402 P: (253) 591-2005 | F: (253) 591-5788