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Backyard Composters

Reduce your household waste and help the environment by composting at home. Turn uncooked vegetable and fruit scraps, coffee grounds and filters, egg shells, tea bags, and yard trimmings (leaves, grass, weeds, etc) into a nutrient-rich soil conditioner. The City offers backyard composters through a special program for its residents. A composter measures about 85 centimetres in diameter at the base and is 85 centimetres high. The body consists of two snap-together pieces for easy transportation, and comes with a detailed instruction manual.

How to get a composter

Composters are available to City of Vancouver residents for $25 each, including taxes (about half cost) at:

Vancouver South Transfer Station
377 West Kent Avenue North.
(Use the line-up for the weigh scales. Approach the station from the east on Kent Ave. Left turns are not allowed if you come from the west.)

For hours of operations and directions, go to Vancouver Transfer Station

Proof of residency is required.

There is a limit of three composters per household. If you need more than three composters, please call 604.871.6058 or e-mail recycle@vancouver.ca.

How to make compost

For information on how to make compost in your new backyard bin, check out City Farmer's Step-by-Step Photo Guide to BackYard Composting or the North Shore Recycling Programs Composters video.

Composting information and instructions in Cantonese

Composting information and instructions in Mandarin

Composting information and instructions in Punjabi

Worm Composting (for Apartments)

Do you want to compost, but live in an apartment and don't have a backyard? Worm Composting allows you to turn your uncooked vegetable and fruit scraps, coffee grounds and filters, egg shells, etcetera into a nutrient-rich soil conditioner for your plants.

The City has a limited number of Worm Composters available at the low price of $25. The units come complete with the bin, lid and tray, worms, bedding and instructions, and a mandatory one hour workshop at the Compost Demonstration Garden.

To register for the workshops or to get more information, call the Compost Hotline at 604.736.2250. For a slideshow demonstration of worm composting check out City Farmer's Photo Guide to Worm Composting (Note: Link will open into a new window).

Residential Food Scraps Collection Service

Starting April 22, 2010, if you currently receive the City yard trimmings collection service, you will now be able to add uncooked fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds and filters, teabags, and eggshells into your yard trimmings cart for composting.  Learn more.

Comments or questions? Send us e-mail: composthotline@telus.net or call 604.736.2250

© , City of Vancouver, Engineering Services
Last Modified: Thursday, October 6, 2011