What Goes Where & Co-Mingled Food & Yard Waste

Accepted 

• Table scraps and food scraping:
  • fruits and veggies 
  • breads, pasta, rice, noodles, 
  • coffee grounds, paper coffee filters, tea bags
  • dairy products and non-dairy alternatives
  • eggshells, meat, poultry, fish, shellfish and bones
• Food soiled papers, paper towels, napkins and plates, pizza delivery boxes
• Yard waste – flowers, garden trimmings and leaves, plants (living or dead/dried). Branches must be no more than 7.5 cm (3 in) in diameter and cut to fit in the bin with the lid closed.

Not Accepted

• compostable or biodegradable plastic bags
• paper bags with bioplastic or cellulose (shiny) lining
• sod or soil
• liquid grease
• stickers, twist ties, elastic bands from produce
• recyclables (plastics, Styrofoam, metal, etc.)
• flower pots (ceramic, terracotta, etc.)
• animal feces or litter
• diapers or hygiene products
• rocks or stumps
• painted or treated wood
• invasive plants (refer to CSWM(opens in new window) for proper disposal) 

For more information about the food and yard waste program please visit Comox Strathcona Waste Management.

Food & Yard Waste Program

Bags labeled 'compostable' or 'biodegradable' are not accepted in our composting program. We understand that this can be confusing. Certification standards currently allow a plastic to be called 'biodegradable' or 'compostable' if it breaks down to a specified degree, over a minimum period of time, when exposed to a certain minimum temperature and other physical conditions. However, not all composting and digestion facilities operate under those conditions, and the required conditions can vary depending on the specific certification applied. Our operation will not break them down sufficiently.

The practice of private companies labeling products as  'biodegradable' or 'compostable' is under review as many municipalities and regions are facing similar challenges. The Federal government is currently working on developing regulations that would prohibit the labelling of plastic products as degradable, biodegradable or compostable unless they meet a specific standard more aligned to the conditions the majority of  composting facilities use.

If you are looking for ways to line your bin, try newspaper, plain brown paper, or paper towel. Freezing your kitchen scraps and transferring them to your curbside green bin on the day of pick-up is a good way to reduce odors, pests and keep your curbside bin clean.

Please do not put trash into the compost bin. Contaminated loads of compost cannot be processed and are diverted to the landfill, which is the opposite of what we are trying to achieve. 

• Collect your food waste inside during the week and transfer to the larger curbside cart as needed.
• On collection day, set out your food/yard waste cart even if it isn’t full.
• If lining your bin or kitchen bin, use a paper product such as newspaper or cardboard – do not use plastic bags or liners, even if it is labeled compostable or biodegradable (they will not break down and cause contamination).
• Reduce odour by cleaning the kitchen bin and curbside cart with hot water and phosphate-free, environmentally friendly detergent, and/or sprinkle with baking soda.
• Bring in your food/yard waste cart as soon as possible after collection to avoid attracting bears and other wildlife.
• Top up your curbside cart with yard waste such as garden trimmings and leaves, or plants (living or dead/dried). 

Accepted cardboard and paper packaging

• Newspaper and flyers
• Magazines and catalogues
• Telephone books
• Writing home/office paper and correspondence*
• Corrugated cardboard boxes
• Cardboard/boxboard
• Moulded boxboard packaging (egg cartons)
• Paper bags (Kraft paper)
• Multi-layer paper bags
• Purchased gift bags, boxes
• Paper party decorations
• Non-durable paper food containers (paper take-out containers with food cleaned out)
• Disposable paper hangers

View the list with icons/pictures.

Unsure if it qualifies as plastic packaging in the curbside recycling cart? 

Search items using the Waste Wizard

• plastic hangers from clothing
• single-use plastic plates, bowls, cups
• plastic dental floss cases and tape dispensers
• plastic jugs with screw tops (used for cooking oil, laundry detergent, fabric softener, cleaningproducts, etc.)
• plastic bottles with screw caps, spray, pumps or pull-up tops (used for food, dish soap, mouth
• wash, personal care products, pills, vitamins, etc.)
• plastic jars with screw tops (used for peanut butter, jam, nuts, condiments, etc.)
• plastic cannabis containers
• plastic clamshell packaging (used for baked goods, produce etc.)
• plastic tubs and lids (used for yoghurt, margarine, cottage cheese, ice cream, etc.)
• plastic black-bottom trays with clear lids (used for deli chicken, single-serve meals, baked goods etc.)
• plastic drink cups with lids (used for take-out beverages)
• single-use straws and stir sticks
• plastic cutlery
• microwavable plastic bowls and cups
• empty single-use coffee/tea pods (remove lids and do not include lids in recycling)
• rigid plastic packaging (used for toothbrushes, batteries, etc.—remove paper backing and recycle separately)
• plastic nursery and seedling trays
• plastic plant pots 

Unsure if it qualifies as metal for the curbside recycling cart? 

Search items using the Waste Wizard

• food tins/cans and lids
• metal containers (used for cookies, chocolates, etc.)
• thin-gauge metal storage tins
• clean aluminum foil
• clean aluminum take-out containers, pie plates, baking dishes
• empty aerosol cans

• food and yard waste - please put it into the co-mingled food and yard waste cart.
• recyclable materials
• construction materials, wood waste
• vehicle parts or scrap metal
• large dead animals (e.g. deer, sheep) - please contact Comox Strathcona Waste Management
• batteries - these are the leading cause of landfill and recycling fires, please dispose of them at a recycling depot 
• compressed gas cylinders 
• needles and sharps
• pharmaceuticals - please take to a pharmacy for disposal 
• paint - please dispose of paint at the Comox Valley Waste Management Centre as ousehold Hazardous Waste