Frequently asked questions

Can I put a plastic or bio-plastic liner in my bucket?

No. Everything inside the bucket must be acceptable food waste (refer to Go/No-go guide).

Will the bucket stink or get icky?

Not any more than your usual trash bin does. The weekly pickup schedule reduces the chances of the food becoming an issue. Regular, light maintenance after collection day in the sink is enough to keep things spick and span.

Where should I keep my bucket?

Under the sink is a great spot if you have the space. Or, keep a small receptacle in the kitchen to collect scraps before bringing them to your bucket in the garage. Buckets must be stored inside except on your collection day to deter wildlife interference.

Will bears become an issue?

The short answer is no. Anything that would attract wildlife is already in your garbage can, that's why we're instructed not to put the cart out until the morning of collection day. Ensure your bucket is adequately washed to help reduce chances of wildlife encounters. If you feel the need to secure your bucket in a enclosure, let me know so we can work toward accommodate the change.

What are some common contaminants to avoid?

-PLU's: the stickers than come on most of your produce to be scanned at the counter. They're attached to your onion skins and banana peels, be aware!

-Cheese: cheese is dairy which means it's difficult to compost without a dedicated facility. No dairy of any kind please!

-Meat: even if it's buried in a salad, meat requires a dedicated facility and adds a greater danger for bear interest.

What neighborhoods do we serve?

For the initial year, I'm focusing on Sand Lake and Huffman/O'Malley neighborhoods. If you're outside of the service area but have gathered some interested community members together, reach out! The goal is to get as much food diverted as we can.

How does collection work?

Leave your bucket on the curb, like you do your trash can, by 7 AM. You must use the black, logoed buckets for our route driver to identify it for pickup. Ensure it is visible from the road.

What if I forget to put my bucket out?

Unfortunately, I won't be able to swing by to get it when its not the collection day for your neighborhood. As this grows, I hope to be able to remedy the problem more readily.

What happens if I place an unapproved item in the compost?

Fees will be applied to customers who have unapproved items in the compost. Details are in the terms and conditions. The short answer is if we mess up this waste stream, the fragile compost ecosystem we're developing in Anchorage will suffer. We want a clean, specific waste stream until the culture develops and access increases.