Meat and dairy products will be allowed in the yard waste cart, glass will go in the same recycling container as paper and plastic, and more plastic materials will be eligible for recycling, thanks to new solid waste contracts that could take effect in Seattle next year.

The new contracts would "significantly reduce" the amount of residential food waste sent to the landfill each year, according to the mayor's office.

The city's new solid waste collection contracts with Waste Management, Inc. and Seattle-based newcomer CleanScapes, will once again set the bar nationally for recycling programs.

All single-family homes will be offered weekly curbside food and yard waste collection, which will include meat and dairy scraps for the first time. Food waste will be used as compost for local parks and gardens. Each year, food waste makes up more than 30 percent of our garbage - about 45,000 tons. The city says this program is expected to cut that by more than half.

All other recyclable material can now go into a single recycling bin, including glass, paper and plastic.

Beginning in April 2009, residential curbside customers will be able to recycle all plastic food containers such as plastic cups and deli containers, except foam.

Sixty percent of the trucks will run on a bio-diesel blend and 40 percent will run on compressed natural gas, dramatically reducing key pollutants in neighborhoods.

New contracts facilitate the expansion of the city's Dumpster Free Alley plan, which is designed to cut crime, reduce waste and generally clean up the alleys and business areas.

The city's goal is to divert 60 percent of the city's waste by 2012. In 2005, Seattle recycled 44 percent of all its waste. Seattle's 2006 recycling statistics will be available next week.