Curbside organics collection is every week and includes both kitchen waste and yard waste.
Tips to reduce odour
- Empty your kitchen catcher frequently; wash or rinse your organics cart as needed
- Don't leave food waste exposed; keep container and cart lids tightly closed
- Line the bottom of your container and cart with newspaper or paper towel to absorb moisture
- Freeze meat, fish, poultry or bones and put them in your organics cart on your collection day
- Sprinkle a small amount of baking soda, garden lime or vinegar in your cart
- Store your cart in a secure, cool, ventilated location
- Put your organics cart out for collection every week even if it is not full
Acceptable liners
Plastic items or bags - even those labelled biodegradable, oxo-degradable, or compostable - may not sufficiently breakdown in existing commercial composting facilities. This is leading to plastic contamination in the topsoil that is produced in these facilities.
To meet provincial regulations, North Cowichan and all composting facilities in BC no longer allows the use of any plastics – including bags labelled as certified compostable - in organics collection.
Paper is a great liner alternative. To line your organics cart, you can use paper bags, newspaper, or just leave loose in your cart.
There are several brands of compostable paper bags available for purchase. These come in an assortment of sizes – from small kitchen-catcher sized bags to an 80L bag - big enough for the standard 80 litre organics cart. Ensure the paper bag you choose is made only of paper to be certain it is suitable for curbside composting.
Use your remaining plastic compostable bags for any other household garbage bag needs, such as kitchen or bathroom garbage.