Organics

Organics FAQS

• WHAT ORGANIC MATERIALS ARE ACCEPTED?

  • Food Waste: Table scraps, food scrapings, and food soiled papers – including breads, pasta, rice and noodles, coffee grounds and paper filters, dairy products and non-dairy alternatives, eggshells, fruits and veggies, meat, poultry, fish, shellfish and bones, paper towels, napkins and plates, pizza delivery boxes, tea bags.
  • Yard Waste: yard and garden trimmings, leaves, plants (living or dead/dried), flowers, sod, and small amounts of soil. Branches must be no more than 7.5 cm (3 in) in diameter and cut to fit in the bin with the lid closed.

  For more information and the Do’s and Don’ts of Organics use the CR Recycles app “Wizard” feature, or visit: https://www.cswm.ca/compost

• WHAT IS NOT ACCEPTED FOR ORGANICS COLLECTION?

  • No plastic compostable/biodegradable bags, containers, or cutlery. They do NOT break down sufficiently and will contaminate the finished compost.
  • No metal, glass, plastic, pet litter, or diapers – These items can either be recycled curbside or at your local depot, or need to go in the garbage.
  • No produce stickers – Remove before discarding for composting.
  • No fats, oils or greases – Residential used cooking oil in sealed containers can be brought to the Comox Valley and Campbell River Waste Management Centres on Household Hazardous Waste drop-off days.

  For more information about household hazardous waste visit: https://www.cswm.ca/hhw.

• HOW DO I PACKAGE ORGANIC WASTE FOR COLLECTION?

  There are several ways to package your organic waste:

  • Green kitchen bins are supplied for daily indoor disposal, these are not intended for curbside collection.
  • Acceptable liners for your daily kitchen bin include shredded paper, paper bags (without plastic liner), and newspaper. Liners are not required.
  • Use strong lidded containers for your exterior bins made of plastic, rubber, or galvanized steel.
  • DO NOT put organics out for collection in your green kitchen bins or paper yard waste bags. Leaving organics in unsecure collection containers will increase human-wildlife conflicts. For more information on how to limit pest and wildlife contact, read below!
  • Clearly label your Organic Waste container to distinguish organics from regular garbage.
  • Branches and pruning must be tied or bagged in secure bundles measuring maximum 90 cm (36 in) long and 60 cm (24 in) wide. Individual branches must not exceed 7.6 cm (3 in) in diameter. Tie bundles with twine or other compostable string.
  • Yard waste, like lawn clippings and leaves that does not contain food waste may continue to be placed in paper yard waste bags.

• WHEN ARE MY ORGANICS COLLECTED?

  Organics are collected weekly and year round on the same day as your regular garbage collection.

  Download the Campbell River Recycles App from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store to get reminders and view collection notices and schedule changes.
  
  Alternatively, you can download a printable calendar and register for email, text, or telephone reminders about garbage, recycling, and organics collection notices at Curbside Collection.

• WHAT TIME DO MY ORGANIC MATERIALS HAVE TO BE OUT ON THE CURB?

  Please place your organics at the curbside as close to 7:30 a.m. on your scheduled collection day. Garbage may be placed at the curbside no earlier than midnight on the day of collection. After collection, bring your organics containers back to your property by 8 p.m. to reduce attracting bears and other wildlife.

• WHAT IS THE COLLECTION LIMIT AND MAXIMUM SIZE FOR ORGANICS CONTAINERS?

  A 360-litre limit, per household, per week, is in place for the Organics Curbside Collection program. As food and yard waste can be quite heavy, here are our container size and weight limitations:

  • Cans should be maximum 20 kg (44 lbs).
  • Each container should not exceed 121 litres in size.
  • Provided green bins are for daily indoor disposal and are not to be used for curbside collection.

• I HAVE MORE THAN 360 LITRES OF YARD WASTE. WHAT CAN I DO?

  A 360-litre limit, per household, per week, is in place for the Organics Curbside Collection program. Please ensure that each bin or bag is within the weight limit of 20 kg (44 lbs).

  Residents can purchase organics collection tags for $4 at City Hall, the Sportsplex or the Community Centre for additional Organics Curbside Collection.

  Alternatively, you can drop off all yard waste at the landfill. Fees can be found at the Comox Strathcona Waste Management website: https://www.cswm.ca/fees 

• WHY IS THERE A 360 LITRE LIMIT?

  Unlimited curbside collection is not financially sustainable or operationally deliverable. The 360-litre limit allows the collection contractor to anticipate the levels of organic waste to be collected, which helps keep the program on schedule. Due to the materials involved, delays in the Organics Curbside Collection program could increase wildlife contact, and delays to one route impact schedules later in the week.

• HOW DO I LIMIT PEST AND WILDLIFE CONTACT?

  • Put out bins only on collection day, as close to the scheduled collection time as possible (not the night before).
  • Quickly bring in your Organics bin after collection.
  • Clean bins with eco-friendly detergent and/or baking soda to reduce odours.
  • Freeze compost between collection days to reduce attractants.

• WHAT QUALIFIES AS AN ORGANICS BAG, AND WHY DO THEY NEED TO BE LABELLED AS COMPOSTABLE?

  The composting facility that processes organic waste reports that regular and biodegradable bags contaminate the final product (soil) as they do not break down. Many bags are advertised as being suitable for yard waste (such as clear lawn and garden bags), but only unlined paper bags are truly compostable and accepted. ALL plastic/compostable plastic bags will NOT be picked up at the curb.

• WHAT IF I ALREADY COMPOST AT HOME?

  That’s great! The curbside food and yard waste collection service can enhance existing personal efforts by accepting items not suitable for backyard systems – this includes meat and bones, fish, and dairy.

• WHY ARE SOME PAPER AND COTTON PRODUCTS NOT ACCEPTED?

  Paper products containing metal, foil, or plastic coatings/lamination will not break down in the composting process. Examples include: Tetra Pak juice boxes, diapers, baby wipes, personal hygiene products, and makeup removal pads. Paper towels or tissues used with household cleaning liquids (i.e. solvents and cleaners) can kill the essential bacteria that breaks down organic matter.

• Who is eligible for curbside organics collection?

  Residents of Campbell River who are part of the municipal curbside collection program can participate in the expanded service.
  
  Stratas are currently not included in the City’s curbside collection program.

• How much will the expanded service cost?

  Organics curbside collection includes food waste and yard waste material, and the City will pay a new tipping fee at the Regional Compost Facility. This change will increase the cost to deliver the service and will require changes in how the curbside services will be provided moving forward, however, the City expects this to be somewhat offset due to a forecasted 30% reduction in solid waste tipping fees.

• WHY DON’T WE MOVE TO A CART BASED COLLECTION PROGRAM?

  The City’s curbside collection contract is up for renewal in 2024. The City is currently reviewing curbside collection options moving forward.

• Who do I contact for service inquiries or to report a missed pickup?

  To report a singular missed pick-up, please contact Emterra at 250-286-0211 to arrange a new pickup or for other enquiries. Bring your organics back to your property by 8:00 p.m. to avoid attracting bears and other wildlife. Yard waste bags or containers with no food waste can remain at the curbside.