Why can’t I put grass and leaves into my city garbage container?

Many “certified biodegradable” or “certified compostable” plastics may not sufficiently biodegrade in existing commercial composting or digestion facilities. To be safe, leave them out of your green bin unless your municipality or your service provider specifically says their processing facility accepts them.

Most often food packaging belongs in your recycling bin rather than your organics bin. There are some cases, however, where paper packaging gets too soiled to go in with clean paper for recycling. If you get curbside collection for food scraps, some soiled paper products can go into your curbside organics bin. If you are not sure if your community has a food scraps collection program, please contact the RCBC Recycling Hotline.

Accepted materials in municipal composting programs vary. Basic programs include only yard and garden waste such as leaves, branches, and grass clippings. More comprehensive programs accept food scraps as well, including fruits and vegetables, coffee grounds, tea bags, egg shells, bones, meat, fish, dairy, food-soiled cardboard, and baked goods.

There are many benefits to keeping organic material out of the landfill. Engineered landfills are anaerobic environments, meaning they decompose without oxygen. When organic materials break down in anaerobic environments, methane gas is produced. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas and contributes directly to climate change.

Pests and odours can be kept to a minimum with regular emptying and cleaning of your green bin. Remember you are not making more organic waste than before – just moving it into a different bin. Start with lining your kitchen catcher with newspaper, which absorbs liquids, prevents odours and make it easier to clean. Learn how here.

If your community has curbside collection for food scraps, small amounts of used cooking oil can be soaked up in used paper towels or newspaper and then added to your curbside organics bin. If you do not have curbside food scraps collection, small amounts of soaked up cooking oil would go into your household garbage. If you are not sure if your community has a food scraps collection program, please contact the RCBC Recycling Hotline.