Curbside Organics Waste Collection

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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

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

If we have not already addressed your question in our FAQs, please ask us below!

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  • Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

    Given that the roll out on this project is still a year away is it possible the City will reconsider the size of the organics bin? It seems like the larger bin similar to our recycling bin size would be a better option than the smaller bin?

    cathygraham asked 12 months ago

    Thanks so much for your question. Best practice for food waste only compost collection is to use smaller 80-litre carts.  Kimberley's organics collection program will include both food and yard waste and best practice is to use larger carts of 120 to 360-litres.  The 120-litre cart is on the smaller side of carts for comingled collection. However, the yard waste portion is going to be cyclical, being used only certain times of the year.  Additionally, there are many residents that have limited space for storing carts so adding another large 240-litre cart could pose problems for them.

    If residents prefer to upgrade to a larger cart there will be the option to upgrade to a 240L cart for a one time fee, similar to the garbage collection program.  Alternatively, yard waste can be stored and collected over a couple weeks if required. This also helps in controlling odors in the cart when yard material is used for layering. 

     

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    What is happening to the organic waste once its been fully processed? Is it being sold and/or where are the profits going?

    LittleLarch asked 12 months ago

    Thanks so much for your question. We are still working with the RDEK to determine how the processed organics material will be used and distributed. We will be sure to add that information as soon as we have it. 

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    What size would the bin be? How often for pickup?

    A.Kennedy asked 12 months ago

    Thank you for your questions. With this program, single-family houses will each receive two containers - a small kitchen bin approximately 1 cu. ft., or 7 litres in volume and a 120-litre curbside cart, the same size as your existing garbage cart.

     Best practice for collection frequency is to collect organics weekly, with garbage and recycling collected bi-weekly. A weekly collection of organics helps with managing odours and reducing wildlife interactions as well as meeting our goals of reducing the amount of waste entering our landfill. 

Page last updated: 25 Jan 2023, 04:01 PM