The City's award-winning Organicart program began in 2000. Each household is given one 240-litre green bin to collect food and yard waste. The collected material is taken to a local composting facility where it is turned into Grade A compost. Since the program began, over 6,000 tonnes of waste has been diverted from the landfill.
If you have a solid waste utility account with the City and do not have an Organicart, please call Public Works at 962-7584 and one will be delivered to you.
Acceptable food and yard waste items include:
| Food Waste |
Paper Waste |
Yard Waste |
| Fruit and vegetable peels |
Waxed paper |
Grass clippings |
| Egg shells |
Soiled boxboard |
Garden foliage |
| Coffee grinds and filters |
Used paper towel |
Weeds and leaves |
| Meat bones and trimmings |
|
Tree prunings |
| Soup stocks |
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|
|
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Unacceptable items include:
- Hazardous materials
- Plastic, Glass, Metal, and Styrofoam
- Sod and soil
- Gravel, rocks, concrete
- Ashes
- Cat litter and dog droppings
- Animal carcasses
- Personal hygiene products
- Diapers and baby wipes
- Plastic Milk Jugs
- Fabric and rags
Options to accommodate extra organic waste:
- "Bag To Earth", "Bio Bag" and "Bio Sak" bags - These compostable paper bags are convenient for collecting extra food and yard waste in the spring and summer months without the debagging needed with plastic bags. Bags can be placed beside your Organicart for organic collection and/or brought to the Eco-Centre. This way, more of your yard and/or food waste can be composted and NOT put in the landfill. This is a great option if you live in an apartment or condo complex and do not have an Organicart.
- Grass Cycling - Leave grass clippings on the lawn instead of bagging. This significantly reduces the amount of yard waste and retains moisture in your lawn. A routine that might be considered is grass cycling for 2 weeks and then bagging the third week.
How can I keep the Organicart clean and odour-free?
- Line your bin with newspaper to eliminate items falling through the grate
- Contain the food waste by using milk cartons, cereal boxes, paper towels, etc.
- Keep the lid closed when not in use and store in a well-ventilated, shady area
- Dish detergent spread around the lip of the cart may control flies
- Hose out the cart periodically with soap, baking soda, or ammonia
- Clean out your fridge on day 5 or 6 of your collection cycle, not on the first day
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