Bin Tips & Kitchen Tricks
Whether you’re a Bin Swapper or a Curbsider, you can follow these tips to keep your compost bin sparkling clean + free from contamination or pests:
CCKC Bin Tips
- Put those used paper towels, old newspaper clippings, and paper grocery bags to good use! Put shredded paper them in the bottom of your liner to soak up excess moisture, or place a paper bag around your provided liner to prevent it from sticking to the inside of your bin.
- Drain your liquids! Drain the liquid from any soupy or saucy dishes in a strainer before putting them in your bin.
- Avoid composting oil or grease. A small amount of oil from cooked food is acceptable. (Follow these tips from the KC Water Department to keep fats and oils from clogging your pipes!)
- Don’t leave your bin out in the sun! Try to keep your bin indoors, in the air conditioning, whenever possible to prevent pests.
- Prevent contamination! Peel off your produce stickers, remove staples from tea bags, and double check to make sure any twist ties, rubber bands, or plastic packaging doesn’t end up in your bin.
- Biodegradable does not mean compostable! If you use products that have “compostable” packaging, make sure they are 100% Certified Compostable before putting them in your bin (look for the BPI certification).
- Extra compost? No problem! Use your own dumpable container, or a double-lined brown paper bag, for any excess waste – just set it next to your bin for collection on your next service date!
- If you regularly have extra compost, consider adding an additional bin to your service! We’ll give you a discount for adding extra bins to your subscription.
- If you’re a Bin Swapper: Please note that everything must fit inside your bin with the lid snapped on tight! If you have pizza boxes or cardboard egg cartons, try cutting them up with scissors before composting.
- Order additional liners to have on hand. If you’re a Curbsider, you can order a roll of compostable liner bags through your personal online portal.
View our full list of compostable items here!
CCKC Kitchen Tricks
- Keep a container handy while cooking up a storm. Don’t trash your food scraps! Just about all types of organic refuse are excellent for composting! Garlic peels, cheese rinds, eggshells, and even cardboard egg cartons can all get in on the composting action.
- Use the whole fruit or vegetable. Maximize the use of the resources that have gone into producing the veggies or fruits you’re about to eat. With a little research + creativity you might be surprised by all the delicious nutrition and flavors you were missing out on by throwing out that broccoli stalk!
- Has this food actually gone bad? Don’t throw out a bell pepper just because the skin is wrinkled, it’s likely crunchy and delicious on the inside! Use senses: does it smell rotten, feel squishy, is there mold or is it juicing yellow or brown liquid?! When we throw away parts of the vegetable that are perfectly edible, we not only waste food but also the resources that went into growing, harvesting, transporting, and packaging that food. This includes the water, energy, and labor that were used to grow the food!
- You know what’s better than composting? EATING! Make a “eat me first” shelf toward the front of your fridge for items that are about to go bad and need to be eaten before getting new items.
- Don’t over buy! Buy only what you need! When we buy too much food for the week, it might go bad before we get to eat it! If you’re planning a party or event, follow these tips to minimize waste.
- Save and store leftovers properly! Parsley or kale for example, will keep longer in the fridge in a glass of water. Get creative with your leftovers, they make for great snacks or meals throughout the week.