Green Carts and Container Requirements Information

Always have your Green Cart out by 7 a.m. During serve weather conditions, truck maintenance, and other unforeseen events can lead to route changes.

Do not use plastic bags/liners including those marked compostable/biodegradable are not accepted.

You are responsible for taking care of your cart and keeping it clean from odours, dirt, pests and insects. There is no requirement to line your Green Cart but you may want to use newspaper, paper bags/liners or other paper products to the bottom of the cart. You may also use mild soap or vinegar to rinse your cart with a hose and pour the dirty water onto grass/gravel, not down the storm drain.

Wrap food in newspaper or paper bags and freeze meat scraps until collection day to prevent attracting wildlife or maggots. You should storage your Green Cart in the garage, shed or enclosure until morning of your collection day. You can eradicate maggots by sprinkling salt, white vinegar, garden lime or diatomaceous earth on top of them.

If grass clippings are sticking to your cart, consider putting them in a paper yard waste bag first and then roll up the bag, or lining your cart with newspaper. Up to 10 paper bags of yard waste or bundles of branches can be placed at the curb per week.

Store your Green Cart in your garage or another shady spot during warm weather.

Layer wet (kitchen scraps or grass clippings) and dry materials (leaves or branches) in your cart to reduce the chances of materials becoming stuck.

Strain excess liquid and only place solid pieces in the cart.

During the winter months the contents of your Green Cart may freeze to the sides or bottom of the cart. Crews performing the collection will attempt to dump the entire contents of your Green Cart, but material may be stuck. If material is getting stuck inside the cart, use a shovel or other implement to loosen them before collection.

Ensure snow is cleared and that cart placement will not interfere with snow plows or other vehicles.

Biodegradable or compostable coffee pods, utensils, cups or any materials with BPI or compostable/biodegradable labelling are not accepted in Green Cart.

Don’t force the contents of the cart down.

There is no limit to the total amount of mixed recyclables that can be placed at the curb for collection each week. Each container can be up to a maximum 121L (max. 25kg/55lbs) and must have a removable lid and handles.

The lid must be removable and not hinged or permanently attached to the container since the containers are emptied manually by the collection crew.

A Blue Bin was provided to each resident on the curbside program in summer of 2018. New homes that come on to the curbside program will receive a Blue Bin. Additional or replacement bins are available at City Hall in the Finance Department for a fee of $24.

All Blue Bin must have a lid to avoid materials blowing away and creating a mess in the neighbourhood. If you are missing a lid for your City’s provided Blue Bin, a replacement lid is available for purchase at City Hall in the Finance Department for a fee of $12.

Blue bags may only be used for shredded paper. Other recyclables must be placed loose inside an appropriate container (eg. Blue Bin).

Other resident-supplied containers used for mixed recycling must have a yellow “We Recycle” sticker for easy identification (stickers are available free from City Hall or call 604.793.2787 and it can be mail to you).