Ace pitcher can be a catcher in your kitchen: Freebie Wednesday

Though the city has scrapped the plan to try to increase recycling (among other goals) by decreasing trash pickups, as our story last Friday noted, they still hope to urge residents to try other means. One would be increasing the number of people who recycle food scraps. Seattle Public Utilities is offering a freebie if you’re still reluctant:

Last year, Seattle residents helped divert more than 125,000 tons of food scraps and yard debris from the landfill through composting. Fans at Safeco Field helped recycle or compost more than 90 percent of their waste. To recognize their efforts, Seattle Public Utilities and the Seattle Mariners are offering free kitchen compost containers to Seattle residents to help store and carry kitchen scraps to their food and yard waste carts.

On Wednesday, February 26, from 11 am to 3 pm, Seattle residents who pledge to recycle and compost will receive a collector’s edition Felix Hernandez Kitchen Caddy.

This is happening at five locations in the city during that four-hour span – among them, the Southwest Neighborhood Service Center at 2801 SW Thistle (co-housed with Southwest Pool and Southwest Teen Life Center). In case you’re off-peninsula at that time and interested in checking out another location, they’re all listed here. One container per household.

23 Replies to "Ace pitcher can be a catcher in your kitchen: Freebie Wednesday"

  • Kap February 24, 2014 (4:07 pm)

    WTH… Who is home between 11 and 3. My wife is the Compost Queen and I would look good bringing her one of these. It would be like a Grand Slam!

  • ocean February 24, 2014 (4:41 pm)

    Kap- I can try to get one for you!

  • Kennedy February 24, 2014 (5:39 pm)

    Does it have an airtight seal so that the smell won’t stink up the kitchen and attract flies?

  • HC February 24, 2014 (5:47 pm)

    Kap is right. I would love to do this but I’m at work. How do the working folks Get these with out taking time off from work.

  • Maggie February 24, 2014 (5:50 pm)

    Here on Vashon Island (Murray’s Disposal) we can order weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly garbage pick-up (I have bi-weekly pick-up). Why can’t WM offer that option to its customers?

  • Gina February 24, 2014 (6:00 pm)

    Would be nice for City Hall or the Muni Tower to be a distribution site.

  • Kap February 24, 2014 (6:02 pm)

    Ocean… Thank you! You the man! (Or woman).
    My email is hkaplan@fwps.org

    Kap

  • West Seattle Hispter February 24, 2014 (6:27 pm)

    Will there be a Seahawks version?

  • beef February 24, 2014 (8:10 pm)

    i wonder how big it is? we currently use a metal one under the sink that is near the end of its usefulness.

    @kennedy, how long do you let it sit in your house? we usually let ours accumulate for a day or so before running it out to the regular yard waste bin. never any smell or flies, well maybe a few fruit flies during the summer.

  • Kennedy February 24, 2014 (10:07 pm)

    @beef, About once a week. We only empty it when its full. Currently we use a jar with a locking cap that seals it up airtight.

  • ocean February 25, 2014 (6:40 am)

    We just use a large yogurt container: empty when full, and there lid if needed. And easy to recycle it out and replace at the end of its lifespan.
    .
    As for fruit flies, a small container of vinegar works like a charm! Use a custard cup, or similar size, of vinegar (apple-cider works best) with a stretched plastic-wrap top. Poke a few holes in the wrap; a toothpick gives the best size.
    The fruit flies are attracted to the vinegar so they go through the holes to get to the vinegar, but they can’t come back out and will drown in the vinegar. Change out as needed.
    .
    Easy, effective, and inexpensive!

  • AEL February 25, 2014 (7:53 am)

    Why do compost bins have to look so ugly?

    • WSB February 25, 2014 (8:02 am)

      AEL – they don’t; this is a functional freebie, but I’ve seen elaborately designed ones here and there too …

  • miws February 25, 2014 (9:34 am)

    I bought this countertop compost pail nearly a year ago:

    http://www.amazon.com/Good-Ideas-PAIL-BOO-Compost-3-Quart/dp/B0017U7EA6/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393348742&sr=8-1&keywords=bamboo+compost+pail

    .

    Yes, it’s a bit pricey, and I had to save up for it, but it was worth it to me.

    .

    I’m normally more function over form, but the cool thing about this, besides working very well, and is pretty cool looking, IMHO.

    .

    It has a double filter, and mine came with two replacement filter sets, one of which I finally used maybe a month or so ago, after probably nine months of using the set that came installed.

    .

    I haven’t noticed any odor escape issues, even with pungent stuff like garlic in it, but admittedly I don’t have the best sniffer.

    .

    Another important feature that I like, is the removable, washable liner bucket, with its own handle. Saves on the cost, and added waste (although in itself compostable) of the bags.

    .

    I first saw/used one like this at a friend’s place, so when I was in the market to get a compost pail, was leaning toward this one.

    .

    However, when the ability to buy one was becoming a reality, I shopped around both in-store and online, and nothing else really came close to this. Some may have been cool lookin in their own right, but not as cool as this one, and most required using bags, or dealing with carrying a heavy, non-handled, entire unit outside, then having to wash the entire thing.

    .

    Mike

  • Ocean February 25, 2014 (11:11 am)

    Kap;
    I have the container for you! I’ll email you so we can figure out a hand-off.
    cheers

  • Kathleen February 25, 2014 (5:02 pm)

    We have this same container that we got at a Mariners game last summer. The lid seals securely and we don’t have smell or fruit fly problems. We use “bag to nature” bags and just take it out when it’s full.

  • M. February 25, 2014 (8:06 pm)

    Nice container, I’ll get one.
    Although I never would have associated the Mariners with compost…

  • pam February 26, 2014 (11:04 am)

    The SW Center does not have the Mariners sticker on it if it makes a difference to anyone.

  • C A Brown February 26, 2014 (12:45 pm)

    SW Center ran out at 12:26, but still have a few without lids, if you ask.

  • Kristen February 26, 2014 (1:21 pm)

    The are out at the Clean Scape location off S. Main FYI

  • Alki_rez February 26, 2014 (2:42 pm)

    I got one w/o the lid… Does anyone know where I can get a lid?

  • Tony R February 26, 2014 (2:53 pm)

    Out at thistle, since just before 1 per the sign.

  • ell February 26, 2014 (7:18 pm)

    Showed up at 1:00 and they were all out at the Thistle location :(

Sorry, comment time is over.