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 5 Ways to Stink Out Organics Recycling!

There is no doubt about it, recycling organics can smell.  

Organics make up almost 35% of the waste stream.  This is a significant volume and contributor to household and business waste. The simplest way to reduce waste is to buy only what you need, when you need it. Even with the best intentions and careful planning, some food items, like banana and orange peels naturally create organic waste. 

So, what is the best way to manage your organics recycling and how can you avoid the smell?  Here are our top five suggestions to reduce the stink in organics recycling:

  1. Use smaller collection bins at the source of the food scraps.  On the kitchen counter or underneath the sink or in a pull-out drawer.  It is our recommendation to keep the bin smaller as it makes it easier to keep clean and tidy.
  2. Empty the smaller collection bin frequently.  Daily is highly recommended but depending on your usage, every other day may work as well.  Keeping the organics moving will avoid smell and fruit flies.
  3. Wash out the smaller collection bin or ask your contracted recycling company to return clean and sanitized bins. Depending on the company this maybe an additional service but well worth it! At Urban Impact, clean and sanitized bin return is part of our service. bin service.  – returning centralized bins to your place of business that are. Another option is to wash out your bins with dish soap or run the container through the dishwasher .  We also recommend putting in a paper or compostable liner in the small collection bins. While a compostable bag liner will do the job, we recommend a paper liner or paper material because paper decomposes faster than a liner.  
  4. Ensure your Organic service pick up is frequent enough. Generally, for single-family households once-a-week service sufficient. If organics are well contained in a paper bag or liner in the centralized bin every other week service may be an option. For multi-family or apartment complexes, we suggest you work in your contracted recycling company to assess the optimal frequency for pick up.
  5. If you have something in the fridge that has gone bad, for example a meat product, bread or fruit and vegetables,  freeze it! Once it’s frozen then put it into the organics bin on the day of the collection.  Anything that is frozen is far less smelly and really helps avoid fruit flies and any smells.

One last tip: Please only put organic matter in organics bins! Mixing anything other items or materials such as, plastic or metal, contaminates the Organics bin making it unable to be recycled.  With a little bit planning and thought, organics diversion is really that not stinky!