How to FoodCycle

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FoodCycling keeps food out of our landfills which prevents methane creation. Your participation helps reduce this greenhouse gas that causes climate change.

Here are tips and resources to make your FoodCycling easy.

Watch Our FoodCycle YouTube Videos

Get great tips for FoodCycle success. Even if you've never FoodCycled before these videos will show you how:

FoodCycle Benefits (1:06)
How to FoodCycle (1:22)
FoodCycle Kitchen Set-up (1:37)
Preventing Smells and Mess (1:39)
What Can Be FoodCycled (0:19)
How to FoodCycle in Apartments and Condos* (1:06)

*Also available in Spanish and Mandarin on our FoodCycle YouTube channel.

FoodCycle Quick Tips

Choose a container that works for you. Use the countertop pail that comes with your FoodCycle service or your own plastic tub. You can also use a decorative pail with a filter and lid. Or you can use a clear plastic bag.

Find a place to store it. You can keep food scraps on the counter, under the sink, next to your garbage can or in the fridge.

Use a clear plastic bag to line your pail and prevent leaks. Compostable bags work too, but they may get soggy. Black or opaque garbage bags are not allowed.

Keep food scraps cool in the fridge or freezer until collection day. This helps your outdoor cart stay cleaner too.

Get a clean cart. If your outdoor cart gets messy, you may request a clean cart exchange two times per year. (Available for single-family homes.)

Request Clean Cart Replacement

What to FoodCycle

Put the following in your FoodCycle Cart:
Images of food scraps that can be recycled: fruits, vegetables, meat, seafoods, bones, dairy, eggs, cooking grease, oil, tea bags, coffee grounds, filters, grains, nuts and shells

Put the following in the Garbage side only:

Paper napkins and towels
Food packaging (wrappers, boxes, cans)
Compostable utensils, cups or plates
Pet waste

Resources

Tape this FoodCycle reminder to your fridge.
Call us and we can mail it to you: 408-730-7262.

For Single-Family Homes:

For Multi-Family Residences:

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