Organics

The City issues one 240L Organicart (green bin) to each residence for food and yard waste. The collected material is taken to a local composting facility and turned into Grade A compost. If you have a solid waste utility account with the City and do not have an Organicart contact Public Works.

The Organics program complements our Blue Bag Recycling and Household Hazardous Waste programs. Organics can also be taken to the Eco Centre at no charge. Since 2007, the award winning Organicart program has diverted more than 3800 tonnes of organic waste from landfill.

Accepted items include:

Food waste

• Fruit and vegetable peels
• Egg shells
• Coffee grinds and filters
• Meat, bones and trimmings
• Soup stocks

Paper waste

• Waxed paper
• Soiled boxboard / pizza boxes
• Used paper towels

Yard waste

• Grass clippings
• Garden foliage
• Weeds and leaves
• Tree prunings

Items NOT accepted:

• Ashes
• Animal carcasses
• Cat litter and dog droppings
• Diapers and baby wipes
• Fabric and rags
• Glass
• Gravel, rocks, concrete
• Grocery bags
• Hazardous materials
• Metal
• Milk jugs
• Personal hygiene products
• Plastics
• Sod and soil
• Styrofoam

Extra organic waste

• There is no limit on the amount of organics picked up
• Extra organics must be put in compostable bags and placed beside your Organicart on collection day, or taken to the Eco Centre. Bags can be purchased from local retailers. Look for brands like “Bag to Earth”, “Bio Bag” and “Bio Sak." Tape the packaging from the compostable bag to the inside of the Organicart lid for verification purposes for the collector.
• Residents are encouraged to practice Grass Cycling – leaving grass clippings on the lawn instead of bagging. This significantly reduces yard waste and retains moisture, reducing the need for watering.

Keeping your 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
• Spread dish soap around the lip of the cart to help 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

Compostable bags

Compostable bags are useful for collecting kitchen organic waste, lining your green bin, or storing extra yard waste. These can be purchased at local retailers. Bags also are available from the non-profit Winnifred Stewart Association  through a fundraising initiative for their programs and services.

Christmas trees

Christmas trees are processed at local compositing facilities and incorporated into compost mixtures.  

There are 2 options for Christmas tree disposal:

• Curbside collection on your regular collection day during the third week of January
• Drop off at the Spruce Grove Eco Centre at no charge

Remove all decorations and tinsel from the tree before pick-up or drop-off.

For more information, call the Waste Services Information Line at 780-962-7580 or e-mail us