TM
Sign up to receive Cucina Fresca recipes and meal ideas
Cucina Fresca’s Pitch for the Planet
Why Waste a Good Thing?
Reuse. Recycle. Compost.

When you tug at a single thing in nature, you find it attached to the rest of the world.
–John Muir

At Cucina Fresca, we are working hard to incorporate eco-minded practices into our business. As a producer of natural, gourmet foods, we believe we have a responsibility to ensure that our food waste is composted and that our packaging can be reused or recycled.

In our Pitch for the Planet, we are asking you, our customers, to adopt a mindful approach when preparing your next meal – and all your meals to come.

If you’re already an active recycler and composter, we hope you’ll enjoy our tips for re-using our food packages.

If you are not recycling or composting, we’ve compiled a list of resources that will be of assistance to you on your quest to find a responsible way to compost and recycle. Since not all refuse (waste) and composting haulers accept food waste in yard carts or certain plastics in recycling bins, it is prudent to contact your local refuse hauler and/or composting facility to obtain the most up-to-date and accurate information.

The Cucina Fresca factory is located in the City of Seattle. Within our city limits, we’re fortunate to have a waste-management infrastructure that allows not only for recycling but composting of all food scraps – including meat and dairy products. Now, most of the packaging we use for our gourmet foods can be recycled, including plastic container lids that are at least three inches in diameter.

Cucina Fresca’s recyclables are picked up by Waste Management, the city’s contracted collection company. Earlier this year, we began a partnership with Cedar Grove Composting, a family-owned Everett company that was established in 1938 and is now the country’s largest facility dedicated solely to composting. Within in the span of 60 days, Cucina Fresca’s food waste and other compostable materials are transformed into nutrient-rich compost that is then sold to area businesses and residents and used by them in a myriad of beneficial ways.

Thank you for visiting us at cucinafresca.com. We hope this inspires you to make your own Pitch for the Planet by composting your food waste and recycling the containers your food comes in.

-- Chef Brad Glaberson, owner of Cucina Fresca

Are Cucina Fresca’s sauce jars recyclable?
In Seattle city limits, both our sauce jars and lids are recyclable.

Identified on the bottom of the jar as 5PP, this plastic is commonly accepted among curbside recycling programs, however not all recycling centers yet have the capability, or the market, to recycle 5PP containers (or their lids), so it’s up to you to find out. Contact your local waste management utility (links below). 

Properly recycled 5PPs can be reclaimed to make items such as brooms, brushes, ice scrapers, landscape borders, bicycle racks, rakes, pallets and trays.

Are Cucina Fresca’s pasta trays recyclable?
In Seattle city limits, our trays are recyclable (however remove the plastic film and sticker as those are not recyclable).

Identified on the back of the tray as code as a 1 PETE recyclable, this type of plastic is widely accepted by curbside recycling programs. However, not all recycling centers have the capability or the market to recycle 1 PETE plastics, it is best to (click here) check with your waste managment utility.

Properly recycled 1 PETEs are reclaimed to make polar fleece, fiber, tote bags, furniture, carpet, paneling and new containers

Note: Cucina Fresca’s black oven-ready trays used to package its gourmet mac and cheese are identified as Code 1 PETE, but may not be mixed with other Code 1s. Check with your refuse hauler to find out if the black oven-ready meal trays are accepted for recycling.

Are Cucina Fresca’s mac and cheese paper boxes recyclable?
Yes, these are accepted by almost every curbside recycling program.

Did you know you can warm Cucina Fresca’s sauces in the microwave, in the jar it is packaged?
Click here to learn more.

Cucina Fresca sauce jars are great for reuse!
Click here to learn how some of us love to reuse this “tupperware”

Cucina Fresca pasta trays are also handy for reuse!
Click here for some creative ideas.

Learn what you can recycle and compost in your community!
Contact your waste management utility; they’ll educate you on which plastics are accepted by your curbside recycling program as well as which foods and other compostable items are accepted in yard waste carts. Did you know it takes 700 years for a plastic bottle to compost in a landfill?
Click here to see a compiled list of resources we've put together to help speed up your search!


Cucina Fresca’s Prize Giveaways! – (enter below)

August 2009 – Congratulations to August's lucky winners: Ruthie C., Gina W., and Robert H.-- they'll be receiving the following prizes:


Eco-Safe Compost Bags  - 100% biodegradable!
The ultimate in recycling; EcoSafe~6400 bags support the safe and sanitary collection of food and yard waste that can then be composted and returned to the natural bio-cycle in a home or community compost, along with yard waste carts if your curbside recycling program accepts food waste (contact your local refuse hauler ). One box per winner.

Eco-Safe Kitchen Collector  – this stylish 2 gallon compost collector is the #1 selling Collector in the USA. Works perfectly with the Eco-Safe Compost Bags that keep everything clean and make emptying a snap! One Collector per winner.

Cucina Fresca Item – Any Variety! Choose from our line of Gourmet Mac and Cheese, Fresca Assorted Fresh Pasta, or Fresh Sauce.  One item per winner.

This September, we'll be offering another sweepstakes for more prize giveaways, so be sure and check back soon!

Cucina Fresca Inc. 1996-2010 All Rights Reserved