Green bin – composting food scraps and yard waste

Compostable and organic materials like food waste, food scraps, food-soiled paper, and yard trimmings belong in the green bin and need to be separated from regular garbage. 

A study by Metro Vancouver found that 40% of what we throw into the garbage is actually compostable, and should go into the green bin. When compostable and organic materials end up in the garbage and then in the landfill, they create methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that is 25 times more damaging to the environment than carbon dioxide. 

Together we can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help combat our climate crisis by disposing of compostable and organic materials in the green bin.

The contents of your green bin are turned into valuable, nutrient-rich soil that is used for landscaping and growing food. 

It’s important we all take small steps to keep our soil healthy and prevent micro-plastics: do not use plastic bags – even those labelled "biodegradable" or "compostable" – for your food waste and do not put plastic materials in your green bin. 

Plastic (of any type) is a contamination risk if put into your green bin and is not accepted by our processor for composting. 

Important note If placed into your green bin, plastic materials (and the contents in them) may result in your items or the entire truck’s load being disposed to landfill or incinerator. 

Use paper instead of plastic to line your kitchen container

Rather than using plastic bags of any kind, consider lining your kitchen container with newspaper, cardboard, paper towel, or paper bags.

Food scraps

Accepted Bread, pasta, and grains

Accepted Dairy products, including eggs, cheese, and yogurt

Accepted Egg shells

Accepted Fruits and vegetables

Accepted Meat, fish, seafood, including shells and bones

Accepted Noodles, rice, and beans

Accepted Plate scrapings and leftovers

Accepted Pumpkins

Accepted Salads and dressing

Accepted Small amounts of cooking oil or fat absorbed in a paper towel or newspaper

Accepted Teabags, coffee grounds, and filters

Food-soiled paper

Accepted Empty cereal boxes used for food scraps (no plastic liner)

Accepted Newspaper (for wrapping food scraps or lining kitchen containers)

Accepted Paper bags (for lining kitchen containers, such as Bag-to-Earth)

Accepted Paper napkins

Accepted Paper plates and dishes (no plastic coating)

Accepted Pizza boxes with food residue (no plastic pizza saver)

Yard waste

Accepted Leaves and grass clippings

Accepted Short branches and prunings (less than 10cm thick and 50cm long)

Accepted Weeds, plants, and flowers

Other

Accepted Clean wood waste – small pieces only (no plywood or glue laminates)

Accepted Sawdust (bagged in a paper bag)

Accepted Wooden chopsticks and wooden utensils

Accepted Wooden skewers and popsicle sticks

Not accepted Animal carcasses

Not accepted Cat litter

Not accepted Diapers and hygiene products

Not accepted Dirt, rocks, soil, or sod

Not accepted Large branches or prunings (greater than 10cm thick and 50cm long). Large branches must be taken to the Vancouver South Transfer Station. Fees will apply.

Not accepted Large volumes of cooking oil

Not accepted Liquids of any kind

Not accepted Tissue

Not accepted Painted, stained, or treated wood

Not accepted Pet waste and pet waste bags

Not accepted Plastic bags of any kind, including plastic bags labelled as compostable or biodegradable

Not accepted Plastic cutlery, containers or packaging, including items labelled as compostable or biodegradable

Not accepted Plastic foam packaging (Styrofoam)

Not accepted Recyclable containers and packaging

Not accepted Vacuum or dryer lint

Lining it

• Line your kitchen container with newspaper, paper towel, paper bags, or cellulose-lined bags.

Using it

• Drain excess liquids from your food scraps down the sink.
• Wrap your food scraps in newspaper, paper towel, or a paper bag before placing them into your kitchen container.
• Shut the lid when you are not using it.
• Freeze smelly food scraps in a container or zipper-top bag until collection day.
• Capture fruit flies in a bowl of vinegar covered with plastic wrap, pricked with a few holes. 

Emptying it

• Empty your kitchen container often into your green bin. 

Cleaning it

• Rinse your kitchen container after emptying it.
• Sprinkle baking soda in the bottom.

Storing it

• Store your green bin outside in a shady, flat, and ventilated location.
• Keep the lid closed.
• Place the bin away from fences and deck railings to avoid animals getting inside or knocking it over. Otherwise, secure the bin with a bungee cord.
• If animals chew on the bin, rub peppermint oil, hot sauce, cayenne, or chili powder on the chewed spot.

Using it

• To absorb liquid, line your bin with newspaper, cardboard, or yard trimmings.
• Keep the contents of your bin dry by alternating a layer of food scraps with a layer of leaves, grass clippings, or dead plants. Let the leaves and grass clippings dry first.
• Set your bin out for collection every week, even if it isn't full.
• Eliminate maggots with salt or vinegar.

Cleaning it

• Rinse your bin occasionally with a garden hose, mild detergent, or vinegar and water solution.

Important note Pour any soapy water onto the grass or gravel, not down outdoor drains.

There are limits for the total weight of materials in your green bin: 

Bins that exceeds the weight limit can cause damage to the collection vehicles.  As a general rule of thumb, if you can’t move your green bin, it is too heavy to be collected. We will not be able to empty your green bin until materials are removed to lessen the weight below the limit.

Set out your green bin weekly, even if the bin is not full, to ensure the bin stays below the weight limit. If your green bin consistently exceeds the weight limit, you may want to consider ordering a larger green bin or an additional green bin to distribute the weight.

Find options to handle extra yard waste:

• Order a larger green bin
• Drop off extra yard waste at the transfer station or landfill (fees apply)
  • Residents living in the Japanese beetle regulated area PDF file (2.3 MB), may require a Movement Certificate from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to transport plant materials outside the regulated area. Read about Japanese beetle treatment and containment
• Buy a composter from the City and make your own compost

Composting uncooked food scraps with your backyard composter is a great way to create nutrient rich soil at home. City Farmer sells both backyard composters and worm composters on behalf of the City at a subsidized rate.

Find more information on garden composters

1. Crews empty green bin contents into the collection vehicle.
2. Crews transport the material to the Vancouver South Transfer Station where it is inspected. 
3. Transfer Station staff remove visible contaminants such as garbage and plastic bags.
4. Green bin materials are then loaded into a trailer truck and transported to a private composting facility (Green For Life  in Delta) for processing. 
5. Green for Life staff inspect the material again and remove additional contaminants through a series of mechanical processes.
6. Organic material is piled and left to compost over the next 4 months. 
7. When the composting process is complete, the finished product is sold as nutrient-rich compost soil or used for growing turf.