Local Bend and Redmond Garbage & Recycling Companies Offer Commercial Customers New Food Waste Collection Program

Bend Garbage & Recycling, Cascade Disposal and High Country Disposal in Redmond are excited to announce a new program for their commercial customers; Food Waste Collection.

This new program provides commercial customers another opportunity to further reduce their waste, recycle more and keep organic waste out of the landfill. Food waste material includes all food waste; meat, seafood, fruits, vegetables, dairy and bakery items.

The food waste material will be composted by Deschutes Recycling and is the only facility in Central Oregon and the second facility in the state to be permitted to accept food waste material. Deschutes Recycling is located at Knott Landfill in Bend.

“St. Charles Health System partnered with Bend Garbage and Deschutes Recycling on a pilot food waste composting program and has been instrumental in providing Bend Garbage with the material and collection experience to allow us to expand this program,” said Brad Bailey, president. “Food waste is a significant amount of the waste stream and we are excited to be able to recycle it and offer collection services to our commercial customers.”

“The Department of Solid Waste is pleased to have our composting facility permit renewed under new DEQ composting rules,” said Timm Schimke, Deschutes County Solid Waste Director. “Due to environmental factors such as low annual precipitation and depth to groundwater, our facility has been determined to be low risk for potential environmental and operational problems. This has given us the ability to consider additions to the compost operations such as food waste."

"This is an important step forward for waste recovery and the environment in our community," said Mike Riley, executive director of The Environmental Center. "Not only will this new service reduce greenhouse gas emissions from Knott Landfill, it will also recycle nutrient rich waste that used to be thrown away into valuable compost for local gardens and landscapes. Deschutes Recycling deserves a lot of credit for finding and testing a system that works for our community."