Curbside Expanded Organics

Residents who receive RDN curbside collection service can top up their organics cart with leaves, grass and light yard trimmings! Expanding what can go in our organics cart beyond just food waste provides a more accessible way to dispose of light yard waste.

Please ensure all yard trimmings are no larger than 1.5 cm (0.5 inches) in diameter and no longer than 60 cm (2 feet) in length.

Cart Information

In phase one of the expanded organics program, residents can top-up their 100-litre green-lidded organics cart with leaves, grass and light yard trimmings. In 2024, staff will report to the Board on options for alternative cart sizes based on a number of considerations, including, but not limited to, program participation, material volumes, costs, and resident feedback.

Guidelines for using your green-lidded organics cart:

• When setting your organics cart out at the curb for pick-up, please leave the lid in the unlocked position if the cart:
  • Is more than 75% (3/4) full; or,
  • Only contains yard waste.
• Please leave the lid locked when the organics cart is not set-out for collection, unless you have it stored in a garage, shed or other secure location. Thank you for doing your part to keep bears and other wildlife safe.

Continue to follow the standard RDN curbside cart set-out guidelines:

• Roll your carts out between 5-8 am on your scheduled collection day.
• Place your carts as close to the roadway as possible, without blocking traffic sidewalks, and bike lanes.
• Leave at least 1 meter (3 feet) of clearance between the carts and any obstacles, such as parked cars, poles, fire hydrants, etc.
• Leave 3 meters of clearance above the carts.
• All material must be placed in the cart with the lid completely closed.
• Make sure the arrows on the cart lid are pointing toward the street.

Program Benefits and Cost

Collecting yard waste at the curb has several important benefits, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving air quality, and creating a sustainable system for waste diversion. For more information about the benefits, please visit the FAQ.

Our expanded curbside organics program is funded in part by the Province’s CleanBC Fund, which provides funds for GHG emission reduction projects. As such, this program expansion only requires a 1 percent increase (approximately $2 per household) in the curbside utility fee for 2023 and again in 2024, which is separate from the general curbside service fee increase of 3 percent.

WANT TO LEARN MORE?

• Please register to receive email notifications of expansion milestones and updates.

• Visit the FAQs to learn about the expansion, what can be put into your organics cart, and more!

• Tell us if you know about the expanded organics program and if you'd like a different size organics bin in the future? Complete our quick check in below.

• Do you have a question? Post it below and we will answer for all to see. A great way for all to learn.

• Want to contact us directly? Contact the project team at curbside@rdn.bc.ca or 250-390-6501.