Organics/Food Waste

•  Fruits and vegetables
• Meat and bones (bones must be under 2” in diameter) 
• Fat and grease (must be solidified/soaked up by newspaper or paper towel – limit to 5% of food waste by volume) 
• Dairy products 
• Eggs and eggshells 
• Pasta, rice, cereals, grains  
• Baking products and baking goods 
• Condiments, sauces, dressings 
• Plate scrapings 
• Pet food 
• Loose tea, coffee, or other drink mix powders
• Tea bags and coffee filters (must not contain plastic)  
• Soiled paper and cardboard (ex. greasy pizza box or take-out food bag)  
• Paper towel, napkins, facial tissue  
• Parchment paper  
• Wood items such as toothpicks, popsicle sticks and chop sticks  
• Used paper dishes (no plastic coating)

View All Accepted Food Waste Materials

• Plastic bags
• Biodegradable or compostable plastic bags
• Plastic or nylon tea-bags or coffee filters
• Diapers
• Feminine hygiene products
• Styrofoam
• Pet or human hair
• Plastic overwrap, for example, from produce, meat, and cheese
• Pet waste and kitty litter
• Animal bones greater than 2” in diameter
• Recyclables (refer to Schedule A – List of Accepted Materials)
• Yard waste (refer to Schedule A – List of Accepted Materials)
• Garbage
• Metal
• Glass

View All Prohibited Food Waste Materials

Back yard composting is a great way to discard of kitchen scraps, and we encourage homes to continue to compost in their own yards. However, there are many items that can go in your Green Bin that do not usually go in a residential composter including:

• Meat and bones
• Fat and grease (let solidify first and then scrape into compost bucket/bin)
• Dairy products
• Dry and cooked pasta
• Soiled paper and cardboard (ex. greasy pizza box or take-out food bag)
• Paper towel, napkins, facial tissue
• Waxed and parchment paper
• Wood items such as toothpicks, popsicle sticks and chop sticks
• Any other food items that are leaving your composter too wet or too dry.

Use the Green Bin for all of the organic items that you cannot put in your composter to further decrease the amount of garbage in your bi-weekly collection.

Yard waste is not permitted in the Green Bins. The Town provides three (3) yard waste collection events each year as a part of the Curbside Collection program – one in the spring and two in the fall. Yard waste can be taken to the RDCK Landfill at any time during their normal operating hours. Yard waste taken to the RDCK Landfill will be charged at the going rate for ‘Yard and Garden Waste’. For rate information refer the the RDCK website.

During the months of April and October (only) the Creston Landfill accepts Yard & Garden Waste for FREE. This practice is subject to the conditions placed upon it by the Regional District of Central Kootenay.

The food waste is sent to a composting facility at the RDCK Landfill that is owned and operated by the Regional District of Central Kootenay.

If you have extra food waste on your collection day that will not fit in your Green Bin, you may place an extra re-usable container that is clearly identifiable as containing food waste or Kraft paper bag of food waste at the curb for collection with an EXTRA Bag Tag. Extra containers do not have to be a Green Bin – you could use a small garbage can or storage tote for example, as long as an EXTRA Bag Tag is attached and it contains a maximum of 18 Kg (40 lbs) of material. These tags can be purchased at Town Hall. If using Kraft paper bags, it would be a good idea to double bag your extra organic material to ensure your bag does not break upon collection.

If you find you are consistently over the limit of weekly food waste collection, you may wish to purchase a second Green Bin and service. This is a great option for households with large families. If you decide this is the right option for you, you will be charged a one-time fee plus applicable taxes for the new Creston branded Green Bin, and an additional rate will be added to your utility tax bill for the additional weekly collection. In 2023 this works out to be less than $150 per week.

You are responsible for your Green Bin. The Town is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged bins. If you accidently damage or lose your bin you may purchase a new bin at Town Hall. You will be charged a nominal fee plus applicable taxes for each new Creston branded Green Bin. At the discretion of the Town, bins with manufacturing defects may be replaced at no charge if the damaged bin is returned to Town Hall. Your Green Bin is proof that you are eligible for the Food Waste collection service. Failure to have the bin at the curb on collection day will result in your food waste not being collected.

No, pet waste is not accepted in the curbside food waste collection. Please double bag all pet waste and cat litter and put it in your garbage.

Yes! There are many municipalities in BC that collect food waste as a part of their curbside collection program. There are case studies that outline programs in a number of municipalities and can be found on the Government of British Columbia website under Residential

Find out More

If you do not get your food waste collected on your collection day you can:

• Purchase EXTRA Bag Tag(s) to put out additional bag(s) of food waste on your next collection day or,
• Take your Food Waste to the Landfill. There is a public drop-off bin for Food Waste at the Landfill. Food Waste taken to the Landfill will be charged a per-container fee (first four 120L containers).

If you miss your collection day, consider freezing your food waste (if possible) until the next collection.

WHEN IN DOUBT, THROW IT OUT!

We can appreciate wanting to do your best to keep compostable materials out of the landfill, however contamination is difficult to separate and leads to clean compostable material being sent to the landfill.

• Make sure your Green Bin lid is always shut tightly and that it’s not open for long periods of time when you’re filling it. This prevents insects from getting into your compost.
• Put out your Green Bin weekly, even if it isn’t full. This prevents food waste from sitting for long periods of time and generating odours. It also clears out any bugs that may have found their way into your compost.
• Clean out your Green Bin regularly with soap or a water-vinegar mixture to keep your bin fresh and prevent odours. The most effective way to keep your bin clean is to quickly rinse it out after collection every week or two.
• Keep your Green Bin in a cool/shady and dry place. Places like a garage, shed, or under an overhang or porch, are great to store your bin. If you have to store your bin indoors, keep it in a cool place like a basement, under the stairs, or in a closet or cabinet. Under the sink is a great place to store your kitchen catcher if you have the space. 
• Spray vinegar or lemon juice in your Green Bin to prevent maggots as well as bad odours. Insects can’t stand acidic environments so it’s an easy way to ward them off. 
• Drain as much liquid as possible from your organic waste before you put it in your Green Bin. You should also freeze grease and cooking oil before putting them in your bin. 
• Freeze any particularly smelly and messy food waste in your freezer until collection day. You can do this by wrapping it in newspaper, a paper bin liner, or any other 100% paper product and then placing it in your freezer. This can eliminate smelly liquids and waste from sitting in your bin. It also limits bugs and keeps your bin clean. You can even store your Kitchen Catcher in your freezer and put your kitchen scraps straight in there!
• Put extra newspaper, paper towel or ripped up cardboard in your Green Bin to soak up excess moisture. You can place some at the bottom of your bin or even layer it between food waste. Keeping your compost dry will prevent odours as well as insects.
• Sprinkle baking soda in your bin to prevent odours and soak up moisture.
• Wrap any meat scraps in newspaper before putting them in your Green Bin. Freezing meat scraps is more effective at preventing insects, but if you cannot, wrapping your meat scraps and other smelly food waste can help prevent leakage, odour, and insects. 
• Put a few drops of essential oil in your bin to ward off odours. Tea tree, lemongrass, peppermint, and eucalyptus are all great options. You could also try mixing a few drops with water and then spraying it in your bin.
• Sprinkle rock salt, garden lime, or powdered ginger in your Green Bin to ward off insects.