Curbside Organics Waste Collection

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In September, the City of Kimberley launched our curbside organics collection program. This program is diverting waste from our landfill, reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, and returning organic material to the soil ecosystem.

Accepted Materials

Most of the organic waste produced by residents will be in the form of Kitchen Wastes. Kitchen waste is defined as compostable plant and animal derived food waste material including raw and cooked food waste. Kitchen waste includes, but is not limited to:

  • Fruits and vegetables (without stickers)
  • Meat, fish, shellfish, poultry and small bones
  • Dairy products
  • Bread, pasta, grains and baked goods
  • Tea bags (paper filters only), coffee grounds and filters
  • Food soiled paper towels and napkins
  • Food soiled parchment and butcher paper
  • Food soiled cardboard and paper (pizza boxes, paper take-out containers)
  • Egg shells
  • Fish waste: all parts of fish
  • Bones less than 2” in diameter
  • Condemned foods: spoiled and expired food that can't be sold/consumed – without packaging
  • Cooking oil, fats and grease. - Soak up with paper towel and put in green cart

The organics curbside collection also includes yard waste. Items suitable for collection from your yard and garden include the following:

  • Grass clippings, sod and weeds
  • Leaves, cones, needles and berries
  • Branches, twigs and hedge prunings – Branches/twigs to be less then 2” in diameter.
  • Plants, tree fruits and flowers
  • Hay, straw and coconut planter liners

Other compostable items include:

  • Clean wood shavings / sawdust. Must be bagged in paper bag.
  • Untreated lumber scraps. Less then 2" diameter and 12" in length
  • Wood popsicle sticks, chopsticks, toothpicks

Prohibited Materials

Essentially, if it wasn't once living food you'd have in your kitchen, or made of 100% paper/cellulose, it probably doesn’t belong.

  • Plastics: Plastics of any kind will contaminate the compost.
  • "Compostable" or biodegradable bags of any kind. Paper bags are accepted.
  • Produce stickers are made of plastic! Please ensure they have been removed prior to disposal.
  • Sharps: Sharps in any size or quantity, or items that could produce sharps when put through the mixer will render the compost unsaleable. Examples: glass, plexiglass, needles, syringes, metal, blades.
  • Animal bones greater than 2” in diameter
  • Kitty litter and pet feces
  • Pet hair or human hair
  • Domestic septic tank sludge

What about Wildlife?

Wildlife is attracted to organic waste whether it is in an organics cart or a garbage cart. Currently, your organic waste is placed into your garbage cart so the addition of a compost cart will neither increase or decrease the attractant. Continuing to properly manage your carts by securing them on your property or in a shed or garage will minimize the attractant.

We also know that layering food and yard waste in collection carts is an effective way to reduce odours that attract animals.

Bear-resistant carts will be available for a one-time cost of $239.00 to residents that do not have a suitable secure storage location for their cart. Call 250-427-9660 to inquire.

In September, the City of Kimberley launched our curbside organics collection program. This program is diverting waste from our landfill, reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, and returning organic material to the soil ecosystem.

Accepted Materials

Most of the organic waste produced by residents will be in the form of Kitchen Wastes. Kitchen waste is defined as compostable plant and animal derived food waste material including raw and cooked food waste. Kitchen waste includes, but is not limited to:

  • Fruits and vegetables (without stickers)
  • Meat, fish, shellfish, poultry and small bones
  • Dairy products
  • Bread, pasta, grains and baked goods
  • Tea bags (paper filters only), coffee grounds and filters
  • Food soiled paper towels and napkins
  • Food soiled parchment and butcher paper
  • Food soiled cardboard and paper (pizza boxes, paper take-out containers)
  • Egg shells
  • Fish waste: all parts of fish
  • Bones less than 2” in diameter
  • Condemned foods: spoiled and expired food that can't be sold/consumed – without packaging
  • Cooking oil, fats and grease. - Soak up with paper towel and put in green cart

The organics curbside collection also includes yard waste. Items suitable for collection from your yard and garden include the following:

  • Grass clippings, sod and weeds
  • Leaves, cones, needles and berries
  • Branches, twigs and hedge prunings – Branches/twigs to be less then 2” in diameter.
  • Plants, tree fruits and flowers
  • Hay, straw and coconut planter liners

Other compostable items include:

  • Clean wood shavings / sawdust. Must be bagged in paper bag.
  • Untreated lumber scraps. Less then 2" diameter and 12" in length
  • Wood popsicle sticks, chopsticks, toothpicks

Prohibited Materials

Essentially, if it wasn't once living food you'd have in your kitchen, or made of 100% paper/cellulose, it probably doesn’t belong.

  • Plastics: Plastics of any kind will contaminate the compost.
  • "Compostable" or biodegradable bags of any kind. Paper bags are accepted.
  • Produce stickers are made of plastic! Please ensure they have been removed prior to disposal.
  • Sharps: Sharps in any size or quantity, or items that could produce sharps when put through the mixer will render the compost unsaleable. Examples: glass, plexiglass, needles, syringes, metal, blades.
  • Animal bones greater than 2” in diameter
  • Kitty litter and pet feces
  • Pet hair or human hair
  • Domestic septic tank sludge

What about Wildlife?

Wildlife is attracted to organic waste whether it is in an organics cart or a garbage cart. Currently, your organic waste is placed into your garbage cart so the addition of a compost cart will neither increase or decrease the attractant. Continuing to properly manage your carts by securing them on your property or in a shed or garage will minimize the attractant.

We also know that layering food and yard waste in collection carts is an effective way to reduce odours that attract animals.

Bear-resistant carts will be available for a one-time cost of $239.00 to residents that do not have a suitable secure storage location for their cart. Call 250-427-9660 to inquire.

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

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    I see the local save-on store selling very expensive compostable paper bags that have a cellophane coating on the inside. Are these good to use in our kitchen bins or curbside bins?

    Bev asked 2 months ago

    No, compostable bags of any kind are not accepted at the RDEK composting facility.

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    Dryer lint and dryer sheets?

    Janet asked 13 days ago

    Please place dryer sheets and lint in your garbage. Thanks for checking.

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    I am thinking about getting a countertop electric composter (ex. Lomi) to pre-process organic material prior to putting it in the green bin. Are there any issues with that?

    Andrea asked 3 months ago

    No issues at all. Sounds great!

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    Where are people to store their compost between pickup days if they do not have access to a secure garage or shed? I do not want this stored in my house for 1-2 weeks. No matter what you do, it will start to smell. At least with garbage, I can store it in my basement in a sealed garbage bag to contain the smell between pickups, but this? You say no plastic bags. The thought of keeping compostable garbage in my home for one to two weeks is disgusting. And I do not want that large green bin sitting in my house, I have no room for it. And not everyone can afford $239 for a animal proof bin.

    ltfrombc asked 3 months ago

    We understand that some people may face a challenge with storing waste bins. It's important to note that what is going in your organics cart is no different than what is currently going in your garbage cart so where you currently store your garbage cart should be just fine to store your organics cart. In fact, when you layer the food waste with garden waste (grass, pine cones, etc.), it may be a better deterrent than layering with garbage as you currently do.  Please review the materials we sent with the cart and kitchen bin. There are many tips for odour control and wildlife management.  

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    I want regular trash pickup weekly still... instead of the others... Is this possible? Or a later pickup time? Do you hafta bag everything for all bins or just chuck it in

    Colleen asked 3 months ago

    Hi Colleen, no, neither weekly garbage pick-up or a later collection time are possible. 

    Your organic waste doesn't have to be bagged but you can put in in paper bags or wrap in newspaper to help keep your cart clean. No plastic or "compostable" bags of any kind are accepted. Please continue to bag your garbage. Recycling should not be bagged. 

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    Where do residents who do not have a secure garage, a secure shed, a freezer or who cannot afford a bear-resistant bin secure their waste between pick ups? Putting that huge cart in the house is not an option.

    ltfrombc asked 3 months ago

    Hey ltfrombc, We understand that some people may face a challenge with storing waste bins. It's important to note that what is going in your organics cart is no different than what is currently going in your garbage cart so where you currently store your garbage cart should be just fine to store your organics cart. In fact, when you layer the food waste with garden waste (grass, pine cones, etc.), it may be a better deterrent than layering with garbage as you currently do.  Please review the materials we sent with the cart and kitchen bin. There are many tips for odour control and wildlife management.  

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    Our 120-L cart did NOT come with the handlebar in the pictures. WHY are our recycle pick up and garbage pickup, both bi-weekly, not on the same week. Sure would make it easier to remember, and coordinate when away from home. With so many options for small kitchen bins, how did we end up with one that is such an awkward shape and size - for both the countertop, and under the sink storage?

    dk asked 3 months ago

    Hey DK, Apologies that the image in the package has the bar. Rest assured that our collection truck DOES NOT require the cart to have the bar for collection. Schedules are handled by the Operations team and are created using best practice for waste management. The kitchen bin is also pretty standard across all Canadian municipalities offering curbside organics collection.  We hope you can find a convenient spot to store it! 

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    Just wanted to say thank you for bringing composting to our community. I am looking forward to reducing my garbage and ensuring food waste is disposed of properly. Thank you, great job

    Leah asked 3 months ago

    Thank you for saying so! We are looking forward to making a BIG impact on our environment!

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    During the one year monitoring period, when RDEK determines whether to quality is good enough for pubic use, what will be done with the compost? Will it go to the landfill or to farm land or be held until then end of the trail period? If it is determined not to be adequate for public use, is there a plan B?

    Jim asked 3 months ago

    Hi Jim, We don't know the answers at this point. Perhaps reach out to the RDEK as they are running the facility. Here's their general email: info@rdek.bc.ca 

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    So can you use the 100% paper compostable bags? I am assuming no compostable bags means the plastic ones?

    Jane asked 3 months ago

    Yes, you can use 100% paper bags. Thanks for the question.