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Green Organics Tote
Starting June 2, CVRD Electoral Area residents can use their bear-resistant organics totes weekly to dispose of food and yard waste according to their curbside collection schedule. Visit the Curbside Collection Overview page to see the guidelines for successful collection.
Accepted Materials
Branches up to 3 inches in diameter can be brought to a CVRD Recycling Centre for disposal in the yard and garden bin. Larger branches and stumps can be disposed of in the clean wood waste bin.
What to do with confusing items
Some organic items can be tricky to sort—check out the most common questions by clicking on the grey boxes below, or search for a specific item in the Cowichan Recyclopedia to learn what goes where!
- Compostable/Biodegradable Plastics
- Invasive Plants
- Pet Waste
- Dryer Lint
- Fruit Stickers
- Tissues
- Parchment & Wax Paper
- Tea Bags
- Coffee Cups
- Takeout Containers
- Coffee Pods
Bioplastics, biodegradable plastics, compostable plastics and oxodegradable plastics have been introduced as a solution to negate the longevity and pollution of traditional plastics in the environment. These hybrid plastics are made of various materials from natural sources, such as corn, or a combination of natural materials and traditional oil-based sources.
While well-intentioned, compostable, biodegradable or oxodegradable plastic bags and other items are not permitted in your tote/bin as these items do not break down properly and can leave microplastics behind, which is a health and environmental issue.
Even if companies label plastic-type bags “compostable,” “biodegradable,” or "oxodegradable," these items are made to break down in lab-based conditions, which often does not reflect the reality at composting facilities. According to provincial regulations, composting facilities are not permitted to accept these compostable plastic items.
To help address growing concerns about microplastics and protect our health and environment, the federal government is developing regulations to address biodegradable and compostable labelling.
How do I keep my tote/bin clean?
- Line your bin with newspaper or use a 100% paper bag
- Freeze extra messy/smelly items until collection day
- Add cardboard (remove tape/labels), boxboard, newspaper, a paper bag or yard waste to the bottom of your tote before putting in kitchen scraps
- Rinse your tote/bin often
Common Invasive Species
Common invasive species can be disposed of in your organics tote, including:
- English Ivy
- English Holly
- Himilayan Blackberry
- Morning Glory
- Scotch Broom
Noxious Species
Noxious species such as, poison hemlock, giant hogweed, daphne/spurge laurel and knotweed. These species require careful handling and the following disposal:
Disposal
- Dispose of all plant parts in 3-4 mil poly (.003 to .004 inch thick). Extra thick bags are required to avoid ripping by cut stems or thorns.
- Label bags ‘Invasive Plants’ and tie off using a gooseneck tie and a zap strap.
- Take to one of the CVRD drop off depots:
Pet waste does not belong in the organics bin, please dispose of this in the garbage.
Dryer lint is primarily composed of tiny pieces of fabric fibres that shed from clothing during the drying process. These fibres, often synthetic, contain microplastics, and must be disposed of in the garbage.
Fruit stickers are typically made of plastic and must be removed to avoid contaminating the finished compost.
Tissues and paper towels are permitted in the organics bin.
Most parchment and wax papers are coated in silicone or petroleum-based wax, which is not suitable for the organics tote. Please dispose of these items in the garbage.
If your tea bag tears easily when wet, it’s made of paper and can go in your green organics tote. If it doesn’t rip easily, it probably contains plastic, and goes in the black garbage tote.
Paper cups for both hot and cold beverages have a plastic liner, so they can be recycled in your blue recyclables tote.
If you get a paper takeout container, do the grease test. If the grease goes through (like a pizza box), it’s safe for the green organics tote. If it doesn’t go through, it may have a coating or a plastic liner, and should go in the garbage or recycling depending on how clean the container is.
Coffee pods are part recyclable and organics. To properly dispose:
- Remove the foil lid/top and place in blue recyclables tote
- Remove any coffee grounds that are still in the pod and put in your green organics tote
- Place empty coffee pod container in the blue recyclables tote
If you cannot separate the coffee from the plastic/metal casing, please put the coffee pod in the black garbage tote.