Denver allows pizza boxes, other greasy stuff in compost

• The change won't prompt any additional costs to the city, Denver transportation department spokesperson Nancy Kuhn tells us.

Context: That means items like coffee filters, napkins and paper towels, sugar bags, tea bags, toothpicks, wooden chopsticks or skewers and uncoated paper plates can be thrown into compost bins.

• The city initially banned those items to limit trash contamination.
• But low contamination rates, customer feedback and discussions with the city's compost processor prompted officials to loosen the rules, Kuhn says.

What they're saying: "We hope these changes continue to bring awareness to the compost program," Kuhn tells us.

How it works: Waste Management turns materials collected by the city's curbside programs into a soil amendment that can be used on lawns, gardens and fields, per the city.

What's next: Residents can request new cart stickers with the updated guidelines by emailing [email protected].