EUGENE — An attempt to divert food waste from the landfill has created some yucky work in Eugene — picking through the sopping mess of food scraps in search of the plastic spoons and ketchup packets that could spoil a perfectly good batch of compost.

On a recent morning, Danny Gunderson was using a wooden-handled bread knife to prod mounds of lettuce, cucumbers, banana peels, oranges, coffee grounds and paper cups, The Register-Guard in Eugene reported.

Out came a purple plastic glove.

“Obviously, somebody made a mistake and threw it in the container,” said Jack Hoeck, who was watching Gunderson and another employee work through the mounds.

Hoeck is vice president of environmental services for Rexius Forest By-Products, a landscape products distributor that hopes to sell compost from the city’s 4-month-old “Love Food Not Waste” effort to reduce the amount of commercial food waste buried in the landfill.

The biggest problem so far has been keeping out stuff that’s not biodegradable.

“Some people are doing a great job. The loads are perfect,” Hoeck said. “And others … there is still room for improvement.”

Although the company could impose extra charges for loads that have too many items that won’t break down, Rexius prefers to help customers with sorting problems.

The program is voluntary and subsidized by a small rate increase for commercial refuse.

It started in November. So far, more than 45 restaurants, grocery stores and institutions are participating, said Ethan Nelson, the city’s waste prevention and green building manager.

Early results suggest the goal may not be met — so far about 237 tons has gone into composting. Rexius has handled most of it.

Part of the fee imposed in October will generate an estimated $41,000, to be spent on trash bins and equipment upgrades for haulers, outreach and marketing by the refuse firms, and subsidies to ensure haulers don’t lose money on the routes, Nelson said.

City officials don’t plan to make commercial food composting mandatory, he said. Instead, they hope more businesses participate voluntarily so the city can eventually end the subsidies that help pay for the program.