How to get started - Citywide program

What kinds of food scraps can I put in the cart?

You may put in with your yard trimmings cart:

• Uncooked fruit and vegetable scraps*
• Coffee grounds and filters
• Tea bags
• Eggshells

Please note: Newspaper or brown paper bags are accepted if they are being used to wrap food scraps or to line your kitchen container or cart. DO NOT use plastic bags.

Printable step by step guide (1.6 mb) Guide - Chinese (1.6 mb) Guide - Punjabi (2 mb)

*Why can I only put uncooked vegetables and fruit in the cart?

The oil and other ingredients in cooked produce make them more susceptible to odours, pests and insects. Because the Citywide program stays with the bi-weekly yard trimmings collection schedule, it’s best to only put uncooked fruit and vegetables in your cart.

What shouldn't I put in my yard trimmings cart?

DO NOT put in your yard trimmings cart:

• Plastic bags, including grocery, sandwich and compostable
• Cartons or plastic and styrofoam containers
• Oil, grease or chemicals
• Coffee cups
• Diapers or wipes
• Animal waste or cat litter
• Meat, fish, or bones
• Dairy, pasta, rice or bread
• Cooked food
• Rocks, soil or sod

• Printable food scraps yes/ no chart (631 kb)
• How to set out your food scraps/ yard trimmings
• Collection schedule
• Needing a different cart size

Please note: At this time, the City will not be able to provide this collection service to multi-unit residences such as apartments and condominiums, unless your building already has a City yard trimmings cart and only if the cart is filled mostly with yard trimmings and a small percentage of food scraps. The City is not able to provide food scraps collection service to businesses. We have compiled a list of a private companies that can provide food waste collection services to your building. View list

[top]