Residents are provided a Sure-Close kitchen pail with their Recology San Mateo County waste service. To order a kitchen pail, click here. Learn more about caring for your Sure-Close kitchen pail or about different kitchen pail alternatives below!
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5 Easy Ways To Care For Your Kitchen Pail
For A Great Composting Experience!
- Line your kitchen pail with a BPI-certified bag, newspaper, or paper bag to keep it clean. Click here to read more about BPI bags and BPI bag alternatives.
- No liners? No problem! Rinse or wipe pail clean as needed to keep it smelling fresh. Click here for a natural, all-purpose cleaner and disinfectant recipe.
- Prefer to use the dishwasher? Go right ahead! This kitchen pail is dishwasher safe, but just make sure to avoid the heat dry setting.
- Empty the contents of your kitchen pail into your green compost cart every 1-2 days to prevent odors.
- Extend the 1-2 days suggested limit by placing your pail in the freezer! Freezing the contents of your kitchen pail prevents leaks and smells.
Alternatives to BPI-Certified Compostable Bags
Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) certified liner bags are items you can purchase to help make your kitchen pail to green compost cart experience a easier. BPI bags can be purchased at Costco, Whole Foods, Mollie Stone’s and some Safeway, Walgreens and CVS locations. For a list of approved bags, click here.
However, there are alternatives to BPI bags if you are looking for a less expensive or no-cost option. Below are some ideas:
- Go bag-free! Rinse or wipe pail as needed to keep it clean and to prevent odors. Click here for a simple and natural recipe to use as an all-purpose cleaner and/or disinfectant.
- Line compost pail with newspaper/junk mail/ads, a paper bag, soiled cardboard or leaves. When you’re done, everything can go into your compost cart. View the below how-to video to make a newspaper origami liner.
- Skip the kitchen pail altogether and find a kitchen pail alternative here.
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Kitchen Pail Alternatives
No kitchen pail? No problem! There are plenty of free or low cost alternatives right in your kitchen! Try some of these options out:
- Paper bag (bag can also be composted)
- Newspaper (newspaper can also be composted)
- Paper Egg Carton (paper carton can also be composted)
- Ice cream container (ice cream container can also be composted)
- Paper to-go container or cup (paper containers and cups can also be composted)
- Reusable silicone bags or any reusable container (you can put reusable containers in the freezer for freshness or if there are concerns about odors)
- Large bowl with lid
- Leftover rigid plastic lettuce container (container can then go into blue cart for recycling)
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Natural, All-Purpose Cleaner Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 cups water
- Spray bottle
- 2 cups white distilled vinegar
- Optional: Juice of 1 large lemon or 20-30 drops of essential oil for fragrance
- Mix vinegar, water, and fragrance option into a spray bottle and shake to mix. If your spray bottle holds less than 4 cups of volume, make sure to have equal parts of vinegar and water.
- Spray your kitchen pail thoroughly and wipe completely dry with a cloth or paper towel. If using a paper towel, it can be placed into your kitchen pail for composting when finished.
- To use as a disinfectant, spray your kitchen pail and leave for 5 minutes before wiping dry.