Measure encouraging Philly restaurants to compost waste advances

A bill to encourage restaurants to compost instead of sending food waste down the drain is cooking in Philadelphia City Council. 

Many restaurants grind up food waste in garbage disposals so it ends up in the sewage system, said Phil Bresee, city recycling director. Others just chuck garbage into the regular dumpster.

Bresee would like the city to offer cheaper permits for compost dumpsters, as well as providing that they be emptied only when full instead of on a fixed schedule.

“This bill creates exceptions that permit authorized use of modern proven technologies including compactors, which have gauges that indicate their fullness levels, so they can be emptied as needed and aerating composting dumpsters which neutralize food waste odors,” he said Tuesday.

The bill, which now goes to the full council for consideration, also gives the city power to mandate more frequent pickup of any dumpster that is constantly overflowing.