May 8, 2000

 

Free Garbage Disposal and Compost Available at Landfill

Nobody gets much for free these days, but Vancouver residents can count on free garbage disposal and compost for the month of May.

Until May 31, any Vancouver resident may dispose of small quantities household garbage free of charge at:

Vancouver Landfill
5400 72nd Street
Delta

7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. (weekdays)
9 a.m. – 6 p.m. (weekends)
(Please have identification ready to confirm Vancouver residency.)

Commercial or hazardous waste will not be accepted. The Vancouver Landfill has a recycling depot for metals, mattresses, cardboard, paper and tires. Other items for recycling (plastic and glass containers) should be dropped off at the City’s recycling depot at 377 Kent Avenue North (between Manitoba and Yukon Street).

Vancouver residents may also take home up to one cubic metre of free compost (approximately a pick-up truck worth) until the end of May . The compost, ideal for gardening and landscaping, is made of yard trimmings gathered from the City’s collection program. Anyone wishing to order a larger load of compost, should contact the Landfill’s administration office at 946-2688.

Almost 38,000 tonnes of yard trimmings (about 4,000 garbage truck loads) were diverted from the landfill in 1999, and turned into more than 25,000 cubic metres of compost. The compost has been used in the redevelopment of Hastings Park and in the landscaping of other parks throughout the city. The compost is also sold publicly, and has been shipped to projects in Nanaimo, Saltspring Island and Bowen Island.

The City actively encourages home composting through annual sales of apartment and backyard composters. Organic material makes up one-third of all household waste in Vancouver. Composting not only helps reduce landfill-bound waste, but also reduces the cost of municipal collection and disposal. For more information, call the City of Vancouver Recycling Hotline at 327-7710, or visit our Web site at www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/engsvcs/solidwaste/landfill/compost.htm

 

Media enquiries:

Paul Henderson
Landfill Operations
946-8049

(c) 2000 City of Vancouver