COVID-19 (Coronavirus) update
April 3, 2020: To help prevent spread and protect our waste collection staff:
- Dispose of all the following in the garbage in plastic garbage bags:
- Personal hygiene products
- Used tissues
- Cleaning cloths
- Face masks
- Gloves
- Sanitary wipes, even those listed as flushable or compostable
- All similar items
- Securely tie garbage bags shut and set out in your bin in your regular collection area
If you’re sick or caring for someone who is sick:
- Double bag all personal waste in plastic garbage bags
- Securely tie all bags shut and dispose of as regular residential garbage
Important information Unbagged or loose items will not be collected.
What you need to know
Recycle and dispose of items the right way with Waste Wizard
Enter an item below to see how to recycle or safely dispose of it.
Allowed items
Food scraps
Checkmark Dairy products, including cheese and yogurt
Checkmark Egg shells
Checkmark Fruit and vegetable scraps
Checkmark Meat, bones, fish, and seafood shells
Checkmark Noodles, rice, beans, grains, and bread
Checkmark Plate scrapings
Checkmark Small amounts of oil and fat (soaked in paper towel or newspaper)
Checkmark Teabags, coffee grounds, and filters
Food-soiled paper products
Checkmark Empty cereal boxes (no plastic liners)
Checkmark Paper bags (for lining kitchen containers, such as Bag-to-Earth)
Checkmark Parchment paper, wax paper, and waxed cardboard
Checkmark Pizza boxes
Checkmark Newspaper (for wrapping food scraps or lining kitchen containers)
Checkmark Used paper dishes (no plastic coating)
Not allowed
Fecal matter
X Animal waste
X Diapers
Plastics
X Compostable or biodegradable plastic bags
X Plastic bags, wrap, or containers
X Products made of Polylactic Acic (PLA) (containers, disposable plates, cutlery)
Important information The composting facility in Richmond cannot process any kind of plastic, even bags marketed biodegradable or compostable as it degrades the quality of the finished compost.
What to do with extra food scraps
- Order a larger green bin
- Drop off extra food scraps at the transfer station or landfill (fees apply)
- Buy a composter from the City and make your own compost
Important information If your green bin is overflowing, our crews may not collect it. Please make sure the lid can fully close.
Preventing food waste
Our region throws out 13,000 tonnes of healthy, edible food every year. All that effort, water, and energy? Wasted.
And that food rotting in our landfill? Creating methane, a powerful greenhouse gas.
Make a kitchen container liner
Use our Green Bin origami guide to make a liner for your kitchen container in 5 easy steps.