Putting Your Waste to Work
From kitchen scraps to lawn clippings, we’re helping organic waste collected across Marion County find a new purpose — one that’s making a big difference for our planet.
From Fridge and Field
Food and yard waste from homes, businesses, schools, and local parks departments is collected by area haulers and transported to Re:Source for load consolidation. Then, we transport it to Pacific Region Compost located near Corvallis, OR.
Into Something New
After Re:Source delivers organic waste to a local, DEQ-approved processing facility, the waste is ground, temperature monitored, watered, turned and screened — completing the transition to compost in 45-60 days.
Back to You
Finished compost is sold to local landscape yards, sent to bagging for purchase at home and garden stores, and applied to organic farmers’ fields for soil amendment, ensuring our locally grown food has the proper nutrients.
Why Composting Matters
Saves Landfill Space
Food and yard debris makes up around 22% of municipal waste. Recovering organic materials is one more way we’re diverting waste away from landfills, reducing the impact on our local environment.
Lowers Methane Emissions
Food decomposes in a way that releases methane into the atmosphere more quickly than other types of waste. Food waste is responsible for a large percentage of uncaptured methane from landfills, and since methane is 28x more effective than carbon dioxide at trapping heat, reducing those emissions is critical to meeting climate goals.
Gives Back to Our Environment
When farmers and gardeners use the compost created from organic waste, it helps to improve soil health (reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers), prevent erosion, and conserve water.
Frequently Asked Questions
There’s a saying used to identify what can be placed in curbside organic waste carts: “If it grows, it goes!” Organic waste is made up of yard debris (such as leaves and grass clippings) and all foods, from banana peels and coffee grounds to the expired leftovers in your fridge.
Local organic waste is collected and brought to Re:Source, where we consolidate those loads for transport to Pacific Region Compost located near Corvallis, OR. There, it’s processed into compost and sold to resellers and area farms.
Not yet, but it’s something we’re working to offer in the future as a way of bringing our local waste cycle full circle — taking your yard clippings and food scraps and returning them to your garden!
In 2025, we’re projected to recover nearly 20%—close to 75,000 tons—of the waste we process. By 2038, we estimate that number will grow to 100,000 tons.
Sustainability
From our processes to our facilities, learn what we’re doing to keep our community and planet cleaner.
Commingle Recycling
We’re supporting community recycling efforts to save landfill space and turn waste into a valuable resource.