HOW IT WORKS
As easy as taking out the trash
We collect your scraps and get them to a facility that turns them into compost. You just fill your bin.
Getting started
Become a member. Choose the membership that fits your household and sign up online.
Get your kit. We provide a countertop bin for daily scraps and a 5-gallon outdoor bin for collection.
Start saving scraps. Keep food waste in your countertop bin instead of the trash.
Fill your outdoor bin. Empty the countertop bin into your 5-gallon bin as it fills.
Set it out. On your scheduled pickup day, place your 5-gallon bin at the curb.
We take it from there. South Tahoe Refuse hauls your scraps to Full Circle Compost in Carson City, where they become finished compost.
That's it. No turning piles, no managing a backyard bin, no worrying about wildlife getting into compost on your property.
What you can compost (hint: food only)
Yes please
✔ Fruit & veg trimmings
✔ Coffee grounds
✔ Eggshells
✔ Meat & bones
✔ Bread & grains
✔ Seafood (including shellfish)
Please don't
✘ Produce stickers
✘ Coffee filters & tea bags
✘ Compostable cutlery, cups, and plates
✘ Green waste
✘ Paper products & cardboard
Yes, meat and bones are welcome. Full Circle composts at high temperatures, so things a backyard pile can't handle are fine here. Despite the label, “compostable” plastics and cutlery don't break down in this process, so please leave those out.
Pickup Schedule
We pick up on Wednesdays. When you become a member, you schedule your own pickups through our booking page, choosing the Wednesdays that work for you.
Choosing your membership
Memberships are built around how much your household composts and how often you'd like pickups. Each one supports the program and keeps it running. You can change or pause anytime.