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Organics - Accepting Meat, Dairy and Bones
We can now accept meat and dairy in your yard waste cart.  This is because this product can be processed at Silver Springs Organics, the facility we utilize to process our organics and yard waste.  Following is a brief overview.
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Meat, Dairy and Bones Now Accepted

Meat, dairy and bones can be accepted at a commercial composting operation, such as Silver Springs Organics, one of three facilities in Washington permitted to process post-consumer food waste.
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About Silver Springs

At Silver Springs, the compost piles (which are about 700 times larger than a backyard pile) are closely monitored for proper aeration, moisture and temperature. In fact, a commercial compost pile is held at approximately 180 degrees for 15 to 21 days, then turned and composted again for another 15 to 21 days. This process ensures effective decomposition of all material - even the fat and bones. This state-of-the-art facility uses bio-filters to control odors and manages excessive liquids with a filtration and reclamation pond.

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How this Differs from Backyard Composting

This differs from backyard composting where the pile doesn't get as hot. Therefore, meat, dairy and bones decompose very slowly or sometimes not at all. This can result in odors, which can attract rodents. 
  

Last updated: 10/13/2008 4:18:11 PM back to top...

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City of Olympia, Washington
PO Box 1967
Olympia, WA 98507-1967