Mandatory Waste Source Separation

Hello – We suggest talking with your hauler to better understand this charge. There is no additional charge from the RDN to haulers for these items – in fact, haulers can save money by ensuring that recyclables and organics are diverted from the landfill as part of the new hauler license that is coming into effect. A list of haulers is available on this webpage (see section in right-hand column) should you like to do further research about the service that’s right for you.

Hello – If you are in a multi-family building with a private collection service, it’s best to confirm with your service provider.

For residential homes that receive collection through the RDN, there is a list of priority invasive plants that are not accepted in organics collection, including:

• 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)
  
  

These invasive plants should be double-bagged and disposed at the landfill as controlled waste.

Other weeds can be composted in the green carts.

Hello – If you are in a multi-family building with a private collection service, it’s best to confirm with your service provider what is or isn’t accepted. For residential homes that receive collection through the RDN, we ask that all kinds of kitty litter go to the landfill.

 *Please Note – This Response has been updated

Hello - Our recommendation is to place recycling and organics bins alongside garbage bins wherever possible, allowing people to divert as much waste as they can. Since outdoor bins are often more prone to contamination, they can remain as garbage bins. However, indoors—such as in lunchrooms, open mall areas, inside grocery stores, or places where people tend to gather—there should be separate bins for garbage, recycling, and organics.

The RDN is also introducing a waste hauler licensing program that incentivizes waste diversion and includes measures to ensure that haulers keep these streams separate – this will ensure that the work residents put into separating waste will lead to diversion from the landfill.

Hello - There are many good sources for organics containers available, and the best option will depend on the size that you need. If you're looking for smaller 'buckets' for within individual units, there are options available in local hardware stores, or for a bulk purchase, check out the "Bins Discounts" handout on the right hand side of this page. For a larger organics collection container, we recommend contacting your waste collection service to see what they offer and what could be available to meet your needs.

Hello Terry – It sounds like you and other residents are doing a great job, thank you to all of you. The goal of the bylaw is to divert all recyclable and compostable materials from the landfill. That will include recyclable materials that you’ve listed. It is up to you and your neighbours to decide how best to manage this – whether it’s by working with your collection service to start collecting these items, or add these items to those collected by your volunteer team. Please let us know if you have any further questions!

Hello - Consultation was completed on the Mandatory Waste Source Separation bylaw in 2021, inviting people in multi-family units, businesses and industrial buildings to provide input on the proposed change. You can find information about that process here. If you are in an apartment building now, it will be up to the management company or strata to determine how waste can be divided into separate streams to ensure recyclables and organics are diverted from the landfill. We encourage you to connect with them to share input about how you can participate within your capacity.

Hello – All strata properties will be required to have separate bins for recycling and organics moving forward.

Here is the language from the bylaw about what will be required for existing buildings:
“Separate containers, or a partitioned container or containers, that are clearly labeled and identifiable as separate storage for each of Garbage, Recycling Material and Organic Material, and no containers without such labelling and identification or containers for non-separated Garbage, Recyclable Material and Organic Material”

If your townhouse community decides to continue hauling their own recycling, it would need to be clear that all homes have access to bins that are “clearly labeled and identifiable”. The strata will need to look at options for diverting organics as well. We suggest contacting your current service provider and other haulers in the region to see what services they can provide. You may find that once you add a composting service, adding a recycling service becomes easier as well, if you choose to.

Along with this bylaw, the RDN is also making changes to waste hauler licensing that will incentivize offering additional pick up services and making sure that garbage is uncontaminated by recycling or organics.

Hello – your complex will be required to separate recycling and organics from the garbage stream.  There will need to be a plan created for organics diversion and expanding your recycling. We suggest, as a first step, to contact your waste collection provider and speak with them about what services they provide and how it could be best implemented within your community given your space limitation. You can also reach out to other contractors in the area and see what services they offer that may be a better fit.

Hello - yes, manufactured home parks are included in the new bylaw.