a group of adults and children putting organic waste into an organics bin

Feed the Land, Not the Landfill!

Separating your household waste into garbage, recycling and organics becomes second nature with practice, and has long-term financial and environmental benefits.

Organics Diversion

There are two main reasons organics should stay out of the landfill:

  1. Landfills have a life expectancy - when they get full, they're done. Building a new landfill is extremely expensive, not to mention the challenges of finding a new location. By keeping organic material and recycling out of the landfill, it extends the life of our landfills.
  2. When organic materials go into a landfill, they’re compressed under all the other garbage and decompose without oxygen. This process produces two things:
  • Methane – a potent greenhouse gas. In 2022, Canadian landfills were responsible for 17% of greenhouse gas emissions. 
  • Leachate (aka “garbage goo”) – there are systems in place to keep leachate out of the soil and groundwater, but extra leachate can put a strain on those systems. 

Adult and child placing organic material in an organics bin

By separating your household waste, your recyclables and organics are processed in different facilities and don't take up valuable landfill space and aren’t contributing to environmental problems. It’s a small act with a big impact!

FAQs
How do I get started with separating my organics?

The good news is that once you start, it becomes second nature. Here's what you do:

  1. Get an organics bin - it can be anything rigid with a lid. A bucket, a locking green bin, it's up to you. Places like Canadian Tire, Walmart, or hardware stores have good options.
  2. Review what can go in your organics bin and what should stay out. 
  3. Put your organic waste in the bin!
  4. Helpful hint: some people keep a smaller bucket in their kitchen and empty it into their curbside bin as they need. It's even easier if you line your kitchen bucket with a compostable bag (don't use plastic or biodegradable bags, it has to be compostable).
  5. Put your curbside organics bin out every week.

The result? Your garbage output is smaller, doesn't smell as bad, and you're helping save space in our landfill, not to mention reducing leachate and greenhouse gases

What if I don’t have curbside organics collection?

If you don’t have curbside pickup, what about composting at home? There are many online resources on starting your own compost bin. Or is there a local gardener that wants your organics? Could you even start a community compost group? 

organic items going into an organics bin

How do I know what goes in my organics bin?

If you have curbside collection, we've made it easy for you! The RDKS puts out a guide every year that outlines what can and can't be accepted in your curbside organics bin. 

Accepted items include:

  • Food scraps
  • Coffee grounds & tea bags
  • Small amounts of oil & fat, soaked in paper towel or newspaper
  • Food-soiled paper products (cereal boxes, pizza boxes, parchment & wax paper, paper dishes and napkins)
  • Leaves & grass clippings
  • Weeds & plants
  • Short branches and prunings

Items NOT accepted include but are not limited to:

  • Animal waste or kitty litter
  • Diapers
  • Lumber or wood products
  • Rocks, soil, or sod
  • Plastics of any kind

View the full list below, or view the full guide here.

page from RDKS 2025 curbside guide

Love Food Hate Waste

Poster for Love Food Hate Waste

We proudly participate in the national "Love Food Hate Waste" campaign, which aims to help residents reduce avoidable food waste at home. Food waste from the average Canadian household amounts to $1,100 per year!

Love Food, Hate Waste provides recipes, resources, and research to help reduce household food waste. Visit their website for more information on reducing food waste in your home.

 

Making compost at home

Organic materials, like some kinds of food scraps and yard waste (leaves, grass, trimmings, etc.) can be turned into an incredibly valuable resource for your home: compost. Use as a rich garden fertilizer or as a cover layer for other projects, all while keeping organic material out of the landfill.

Compost in your backyard!

The RDKS has Earth Machine Composters available at wholesale cost: $65.00. 

Please call our office to confirm if stock is available. Visit our office on the 2nd floor to pay and pick-up.

80 Gallon / 300 L Capacity.
33” diameter at base & 33” high.
Finished compost is ready in 4 to 6 months.
Easy for turning and aerating.

earth machine composter