BAG IT

• Bag food scraps in a compostable liner before placing them in the organics cart.
  • Compostable bags can be purchased at many stores in Davis
  • Paper grocery bags can be used as liners
• Use an empty cereal box, cracker box, ice cream carton, or milk carton (the kind that requires refrigeration before it's opened) to collect food scraps before placing them in your organics cart.
• Fold a paper liner for your food scrap pail from newspaper or junk mail.
  • PDF instructions to fold a newspaper liner
  • Video on folding a newspaper liner:
    

RINSE IT

• If you have a kitchen food scrap pail, rinse it with lemon juice, vinegar or baking soda to reduce odors and keep fruit flies away. Keep the kid closed--the ventilated lid keeps flies out while allowing air in to minimize odors.
• Rinse your organics cart with a garden hose from time to time, especially if you don’t bag or box up your food scraps. Pour the waste water onto landscaping. Do NOT pour wastewater onto the driveway, sidewalk, or street where it can enter the stormdrain and pollute local waterways.

ICE IT

• To reduce odors, keep meat or fish scraps in the freezer until collection day.

CLOSE IT

• Keep the lid to your food scrap pail and organics cart closed.

Compostable "plastic" bags are available to purchase at most stores that sell regular plastic garbage bags. Look for bags labeled "BPI Certified Compostable." The kitchen food scrap pails distributed by the City can be lined with 3 gallon-sized compostable bags. Paper bags are also compostable and can be used to line indoor organics pails.

Businesses can contact their suppliers to order large compostable bags to line indoor organics collection bins. Extra large compostable liners are also available that can line the entire organics cart.

• Place your kitchen food scrap collection pail by the sink to easily collect food scraps.
• Line your food scrap pail to make emptying it easy.
  • Use compostable or biodegradable "plastic" bag liners for your pail
  • Line the pail with junk mail
  • Fold a simple newspaper liner for your pail
    
    • PDF instructions to fold a newspaper liner
• Wrap messy food in newspaper and then place in your container.
• Rinse or wash your kitchen food scrap collection pail as needed. The food scrap pails distributed by the City are dishwasher safe.
• Empty the pail contents frequently, including the liner, into your organics cart.
• Sprinkle baking soda in your kitchen food scrap collection pail
• Spray or rub vinegar on the inside of the lid to avoid odors and fruit flies.
• Add food soiled paper or shredded paper to help absorb moisture and reduce odors.

• Re-label your kitchen garbage can for your organic wastes. Most of what you are currently throwing in there is probably compostable.
• Collect paper plates, paper napkins, paper cups and food scraps from your next party or BBQ.  All these materials can go into your organics cart.
• If you are getting rid of outdated frozen food, leave in the freezer until the night before your pickup.
• Place cardboard, food soiled paper, newspaper or yard waste at the bottom of the organics carts each week before adding food scraps to prevent the food scraps from sticking to the bottom of the cart.
• Sprinkle baking soda and/or vinegar in your organics cart occasionally to limit odor.
• Collect paper towels from the restrooms.
• Place cardboard, newspaper or yard waste at the bottom of the organics carts each week before adding food scraps to prevent the food scraps from sticking to the bottom of the cart.
• Businesses can contact their suppliers to order compostable bags to line indoor organics collection bins.  Extra large compostable liners are also available that can line the entire organics cart