FAQ

Phase 1: Program expansion start and data collection

On March 1, 2023, resident began topping up their organics cart with leaves, grass and light yard trimmings.

To inform the service for Phase 2, RDN staff begin tracking how many households are putting these materials in their organics carts and the amount of material we are collecting. 

Phase 2: Data analysis and program optimization

In 2024, RDN staff reviewed the data collected after the Phase 1.  According to our Expanded Organics Yard Waste check-ins this spring and summer with customers at the landfill, transfer station, at community events and online, roughly two thirds of RDN residents who took the survey would like the option of an organics cart larger than 100L.

The RDN has developed an optional organics cart upsize program, which allows residents to choose to upsize their organics cart to fit their individual needs.

As of March 1, 2023, RDN residents can top up their organics cart with grass, leaves and light yard trimmings.

Light yard trimmings include twigs, small branches and prunings that are less than 1.5 cm (0.5 inches) in diameter and no longer than 60 cm (2 feet). To ensure collection, the lid of the organics cart must be able to fully close.

The following items are accepted in the organics cart:

• kitchen scraps 
• flowers 
• soiled paper 
• organic materials
• weeds
• vegetable stalks
• hedge clippings
• light trimmings no larger than 1.5 cm (0.5 inches) in diameter and no longer than 60 cm (2 feet) in length 
• leaves
• lawn clippings

The following items are not accepted in the green organics cart. For a more comprehensive list please visit rdn.bc.ca/food-waste-collection 

• garbage
• diapers
• pet waste including cat litter
• styrofoam and cork 
• construction or renovation material

The following priority invasive plants cannot be put into the organics cart:

• Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum)
• Invasive Knotweeds (Fallopia x / Polygonum polystachum)
• Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata)
• Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea maculosa)
• Wild Chervil (Anthriscus sylvestris)
• Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum (T)
• Gorse (Ulex europaeus) 
• Daphne/Spurge-Laurel (Daphne laureola)

Click on the above invasive plant type to see a helpful image. To learn more about invasive species in the RDN visit: getinvolved.rdn.ca/invasivespecies or bcinvasives.ca/take-action/identify/

Yes, you can continue to use compostable bags, paper bags or lining your cart with newspaper, however, it is not required.

If you choose to use a compostable bag, it must have one of the following certification logos:

Collecting yard waste at the curb will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve local air quality and provide residents with a safe and cost-effective way to dispose of non-priority invasive species:

• A reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by hundreds of CO2e tonnes can be achieved through the yard waste collection program. This is due to a decrease in visits to the landfill or transfer stations and a reduction in the frequency of trips made by haulers that transfer compost and yard waste to the compost facility. By providing curbside disposal for yard waste, the number of visits to these sites can be significantly decreased, reducing GHG emissions.
• Improving local air quality by decreasing the frequency and necessity of backyard burning.
• Provide residents with a safe and cost-effective way to dispose of non-priority invasive species.
• Providing residents with the option to dispose of non-priority invasive species at the curb. 

The priority invasive plants which are currently identified for management through controlled landfilling are:

• Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum)
• Invasive Knotweeds (Fallopia x / Polygonum polystachum)
• Garlic Mustard(External link) (Alliaria petiolata)
• Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea maculosa)
• Wild Chervil(External link) (Anthriscus sylvestris)
• Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum (T)

These plants meet the following criteria:

1. Identified by the BC Inter-Ministry Invasive Species Working Group (IMISWG) as invasive species that can spread through infested soil after indoor industrial composting processing; and,
2. Are in listed the Prevent, Eradicate or Contain management categories of priority invasive plants by the Coastal Invasive Species Committee.

For information on how to appropriately dispose of priority invasive plant species, visit rdn.bc.ca/solid-waste-controlled-waste-disposal

Please place leaves, grass and light yard trimmings loosely into your cart (without a bag) when possible. If you’re concerned about the materials sticking to the sides or bottom of your cart, we recommend:

• Use crumbled-up balls of flyer sheets or newspapers at the bottom 
• Place your food waste at the bottom of the cart 
• Layer wet material with dry material
• Wrap high-moisture food contents with newspapers or flyers. 
• Put material into your cart closer to collection day. 

If you need to use a yard waste paper liner bag, please ensure the following:

• The bag is made of one thin layer of paper, with no shiny coatings or liners.
• The bag and its contents are no larger than 60 cm (2 feet) in length, width or depth.
• It is placed loosely in the cart – it might not fall out if crammed or stuffed into the cart.

Curbside organics materials, including leaves, grass and light yard trimmings, are taken to Convertus Nanaimo composting facility located in Duke Point. There the materials are screened for contaminants, processed with in-vessel industrial composting technology, and then sold to local end markets. For more information about waste disposal, residents can visit rdn.bc.ca/what-goes-where.

No, please continue placing your cart in your typical collection location. 

General tips to remember:

• Please leave your organics cart in the unlocked position when setting out for collection.
• Place wheels against the curb without impeding roadway or bike lanes
• Leave 1m (~3ft) of space around your carts
• Do not block the sidewalks, roadway, or bike lanes
• Keep carts at least 1m away from any obstacles above or beside the carts. Obstacles may include barriers like cars, poles, and utility boxes.

If you have no sidewalk or curb, please place the carts at the end of your driveway, adjacent to the roadway.  

No, we will only collect leaves, grass and light yard trimmings contained inside your organics cart, with the lid fully closed. 

Wet, lightweight yard waste can settle and stick to the sides and bottom of the cart. To ensure your cart fully empties when tipped above the truck, please consider the tips below to prevent material from sticking inside the cart:

• Use crumpled-up balls of flyer sheets or newspapers at the bottom of the green cart before putting any food or yard waste in.
• Layer wet material (kitchen scraps) with dry material (leaves, newspaper). 
• Wrap high-moisture food contents in newspapers or flyers. 
• Put the material into your cart closer to collection day.
• If possible before your material is collected, dislodge any frozen contents in your cart by shaking the cart. 

Guidelines for using your green-lidded organics cart:

• When setting your organics cart out at the curb for pick-up, please leave the lid in the unlocked position to ensure it is emptied during collection. As materials shift during the cart unloading process, the cart locking mechanism can be held in place. Avoid a potential non-collection by leaving the lids closed and unlocked on collection day. 
• Please leave the lid locked when the organics cart is not set-out for collection, unless you have it stored in a garage, shed or other secure location. Thank you for doing your part to keep bears and other wildlife safe.

Continue to follow the standard RDN curbside cart set-out guidelines:

• Roll your carts out between 5-8 am on your scheduled collection day.
• Place your carts as close to the roadway as possible, without blocking traffic sidewalks, and bike lanes.
• Leave at least 1 meter (3 feet) of clearance between the carts and any obstacles, such as parked cars, poles, fire hydrants, etc.
• Leave 3 meters of clearance above the carts.
• All material must be placed in the cart with the lid completely closed.
• Make sure the arrows on the cart lid are pointing toward the street.