Seattle OKs $1 fine for adding too much food to garbage bins

Seattle Times ^ | 9/22/2014 | Daniel Beekman

[mojito]

The Seattle City Council passed a new ordinance Monday that could mean $1 fines for people who toss too many table scraps into the trash.

Under current Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) rules, people living in single-family homes are encouraged but not required to dispose of food waste and compostable paper products in compost bins.

Apartment buildings must have compost bins available, but residents of apartment buildings aren’t required to use them.

And businesses aren’t subject to any composting requirements.

Under the new rules, collectors can take a cursory look each time they dump trash into a garbage truck.

If they see compostable items make up 10 percent or more of the trash, they’ll enter the violation into a computer system their trucks already carry, and will leave a ticket on the garbage bin that says to expect a $1 fine on the next garbage bill.

[556x45]

I know for some its unimaginable stupid but Ive lived there and its far far worse than the article depicts. I could hardly wait to leave. Youd never believe some of the stuff that passes for normal or at least gets a pass.

[blueunicorn6]

Someone needs to go to a Seattle City Council meeting and stand up with a roll of toilet paper and ask the council if they can wipe his ass. They evidently want to be everybodys Mommy.

[Phillyred]

[longtermmemmory]

how was that superbowl commercial?

the green police,

the ad was pulled because it was too true...

[Phillyred]

I remember watching that ad and getting chills because it was not far fetched. And people laughed at it. Not me.

[longtermmemmory]

Original Ad:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVPyHrPZbVM

possession of an incandescent light bulb
composting infraction
possession of Styrofoam cups
excessive hot tube heat

GREEN POLICE PSA advertisements:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGSOQTOYm7E

these were fascist psa’s to go with the original ad.

municipal lawyers that approve these laws should not be allowed to practice law.

[RangerM]

Does this mean the kids will wind up paying for their school lunch coming and going?

[dennisw]

The secret ingredient is wood chips and you try to get them free from a tree trimming company.

[BookmanTheJanitor]

Apartment buildings and businesses will be subject to the same 10 percent threshold but will get two warnings before they are fined. A third violation will result in a $50 fine.

so...if you are pissed at your landlord, you can dump all of your food and make him pay the fine.