Compost (Food & Yard Waste) Options in Thurston County

Compost Collection for Businesses and Universities

Signing up for compost-collection service is an easy way for businesses, offices and universities to compost food, paper and yard trimmings.

Employees simply toss compostable wastes into a special cart provided by a hauler, who then collects the waste and delivers it to a composting facility. Food-soiled napkins, paper towels and scraps that would normally go to a landfill are converted into a nutrient-rich compost to grow more fruits and vegetables. The program can reduce your businesses' trash disposal costs while protecting the environment.

Participants  receive:

• Hands-on staff training and signage.
• Kitchen recycling containers.
• Outdoor collection cartss.
• Promotional materials.

Compost collection service is offered countywide by LeMay Enterprises as a stand-alone service or as part of the company's Certified Green bundled recycling service. For more information call 486-8606.

The City of Olympia offers compost collection to Olympia businesses. For more information, call 570-5837.

What Materials Should Go in the Compost Cart?

The compostable materials in your compost cart are transported Silver Springs Organics in Rainier to be turned into compost. Silver Springs occasionally changes the list of acceptable materials, so please visit the Silver Springs website directly.

The Certified Green Program

Businesses, schools and universities that participate in LeMay Enterprise's "Certified Green" program are among those that compost food and food-soiled paper. Click here for a list.

Contact Us

Thurston County does not own or operate compost pickup trucks. Please contact your hauler for information about pickup schedules and rates, or to sign up for curbside service.

For technical assistance -- such as information about which materials go in the compost cart -- call Emily Orme at (360) 867-2086 or e-mail ormee@co.thurston.wa.us.