Curbside Organics Waste Collection

The City of Kimberley has been working towards implementation of a curbside organics collection program. An organics collection program will support the community in many ways including diverting waste from our landfill, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and returning organic material to the soil ecosystem.

We know from the 2018 RDEK Waste Characterization Study that an estimated 31% of the waste stream dumped into East Kootenay landfills is compostable organics. Implementation of this project is anticipated to divert more than 767 tonnes of organics from our landfill each year. Curbside organics collection will extend the life of the Kimberley Landfill; will reduce leachate contamination issues at the landfill; and will recover Class A compost. Other benefits include year-round composting; composting materials difficult to address in backyard systems; and the facility will accept bio-solids from Kimberley's wastewater treatment plant.

What is Organic Waste?

Organic waste can broadly be thought of as anything that used to be alive including food waste and yard waste. It refers primarily to food waste and food-soiled paper and can also include household plants/flowers and some yard waste. Kitchen food scraps include cooked food (leftovers) or unused or spoiled grains, dairy, produce, and meat. Bones, egg/seafood shells, and small amounts of fat, grease, and oils are also organic waste. Food-soiled paper products are often compostable and are suitable for organic waste collection. These include paper napkins, paper towel, food-soiled newsprint, pizza boxes, coffee grinds/filters and tea bags, as well as wooden chopsticks, popsicle sticks, and skewers. Organic Waste also includes yard waste including shrub pruning's, leaves, small branches, grass clippings and bedding plants. Check out our FAQs for developing lists of what can and can not be placed in a 'green bin'.

Why Now?

In 2019, the RDEK implemented a public consultation initiative on solid waste which included consultation and surveying with Kimberley residents. 80% of survey respondents indicated their first priority for solid waste management is to protect the environment and their second was to reduce the amount of waste going to the landfill.

With support from the City of Kimberley, the RDEK applied for and was awarded funds to build a Central Composting Facility to be located at the Central Subregion Landfill near Fort Steele. With the build of a nearby compost plant, and the support of City Council, staff applied for and received several grants to support Kimberley's Curbside Organics Program funding to pay for project implementation. Here is a breakdown of that funding:

Total program cost: $657,600

Revenue:

CleanBC Organics Infrastructure Program: $198,399

Columbia Basin Trust Climate Resiliency Program: $272, 900

RDEK: $114,800

City of Kimberley Reserves: $71,500