Curbside Organics Waste Collection

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Project Update: November 29th, 2023

On November 28, 2023, the Regional District of East Kootenay released information about their organics processing facility. To learn more about the construction, visit https://engage.rdek.bc.ca/organics.

In September, the City of Kimberley launched its curbside organics collection program. This program diverts waste from our landfill, reduces our greenhouse gas emissions, and returns 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; Wood Ash. 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 are 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.

Project Update: November 29th, 2023

On November 28, 2023, the Regional District of East Kootenay released information about their organics processing facility. To learn more about the construction, visit https://engage.rdek.bc.ca/organics.

In September, the City of Kimberley launched its curbside organics collection program. This program diverts waste from our landfill, reduces our greenhouse gas emissions, and returns 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; Wood Ash. 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 are 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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    Is the green material from a bouquet of flowers compostable?

    Wanda asked about 2 months ago

    Hi Wanda, Thanks for checking. Floral foam isn't compostable. Please toss it in your trash!

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    Is wood ash acceptable? From a wood stove?

    Angelica asked 3 months ago

    Yes! You can put wood ash in your organics cart. Please ensure it is completely extinguished and cooled down, and it would be a good idea to put it in a paper bag to help contain it. Thanks for the great question!

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    My compost keeps freezing and doesn’t empty when picked up. I can’t put the bin inside so how will this be solved when you won’t allow for compostable bags which other communities are given for use in their bins.

    Angry person asked 3 months ago

    Thanks for the question. The cold temperatures are frustrating for sure. With the warm up coming next week, it should thaw enough to get all of the excess materials out at your next pick-up. In the future, we suggest placing scrap cardboard or paper at the bottom of the cart. This will keep the waste from freezing to the bottom and everything should fall out more easily. You can also place all organic waste in paper bags during colder temps. I hope these tips help. Thanks again. 

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    Hi, I'm asking for a friend who isn't online. Can she line the large bin with wax paper? I'm assuming not but want to confirm

    Sue asked 8 months ago

    Thanks so much for reaching out. Our apologies for the late reply. Unfortunately, wax paper is not compostable. Even though wax paper and butcher paper products are often associated with foodstuffs, they have linings that can’t be composted. They go in the black bin. Parchment paper, however, goes in your green bin. 

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    Do we get free compost and free green bins for donating towards the proceeds ?

    Brad Carlson asked 5 months ago

    Thanks for the question, Brad. Currently, the collected organic material is being stored near the site of the new processing facility. That facility is not yet complete. Once the plant is operational, the RDEK will be making class b compost that will be used for municipal purposes only at that point. That may change going forward but we aren't 100% sure about that at this point. 

    The bins were provided free of charge to each participating household. This was made possible through a grant received from the province. 

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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 7 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 5 months 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 8 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 8 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 8 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.