Not Kidding: Seattle Residents to Be FINED for Throwing Food in the Garbage

Not Kidding: Seattle Residents to Be FINED for Throwing Food in the Garbage

Yes, yes, I can attest to the fact that this is, indeed, a ‘thing’. I do not live in Seattle proper, but my best friend does, and he has told me about this lovely disaster. Yes, we mean to tell you that that banana peel may REALLY cost you:

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EPA wants other cities to enact similar laws…

Via CNS News:
In an attempt to shame residents of their city, a new Seattle law will levy a fine on homes that do not properly sort food out of their garbage.

Emblazoned with a red citation tag, violators will start to be fined anywhere from $1-$50 in July. For now, Seattle residents will be publicly shamed by the ‘Scarlet Letter’-like tags.

“I’m sure neighbors are going to see these on their other neighbors’ cans,” says Rodney Watkins, a lead driver for Recology CleanScapes, a waste contractor for the city. He’s on the front lines of enforcing these rules.

The tags are part of, what the city calls, a “public education campaign.”

In an interview with NPR, Watkins details how he goes about enforcing the draconian statute:

“You can see all the oranges and coffee grounds,” he says, raising one lid.” All that makes great compost. You can put that in your compost bin and buy it back next year in a bag and put it in your garden.”

Look, I am all about reducing waste, and recycling. I even have a Bio-Orb. I live in a rural part of the county, and it works for me. Who wants to be forced to compost? That’s stupid. The government needs to butt out of people’s trash cans, thanks.

Written by Katie McGuire. Follow Katie on Twitter @GOPKatie

McGuire

Writer, Blogger. Political aficionado. Addicted to all levels of government campaigns.

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