Why are you making these changes?
Compostable food waste and food soiled paper makes up close to 40% of curbside collected garbage. Food and paper can be made into valuable compost instead of filling up the landfill. Composting also reduces greenhouse gases as food waste otherwise buried at the landfill is a significant source of methane.
What is the cost increase for this program in 2024?
The total increase to the Districts budget for 2024 is $29,768. This includes the additional collection of yard waste and food waste for December, January and February (which is currently not collected).
How does food waste collection work?
Starting the first week of April in 2024, the District of Summerland will start collecting Yard Waste (green) carts every week. Food waste and yard waste can be placed in the yard waste cart. Garbage (grey) and recycling (blue) carts will then be collected on alternating weeks.
What type of food waste can I place in the Yard Waste carts?
Any type of food, including fruits, vegetables, table scraps, meat, bones, fish and bread free of plastics or other materials can be placed with yard waste in the Yard Waste cart. Food soiled paper like paper napkins or paper used as a bin liner can also be included.
I thought table scraps, meats and breads could not be composted?
Table scraps, meats and breads can be incredibly stinky and attract animals in a backyard composter. The compost site at the Summerland Landfill has been designed to control odour and get hot enough to kill pathogens found in meat or rotten food.
Can I use plastic bags or compostable plastic bags?
No! Plastics are a major source of contamination for the compost sites. Plastic bags using the term compostable are designed to break down in large industrial composters. Compostable, biodegradable or degradable bags will not break down at Summerland’s compost site. They are a source of pollution. As well the Province of British Columbia does not legally permit compostable plastics to be composted. Compostable paper bags or newspaper used as a bin liner can be used if owners would like a bag option, but this is not required. These bags can be readily purchased from most grocery or hardware stores.
How do I avoid the mess of handling food waste?
Summerland is supplying small bins called “kitchen catchers” to help launch the program. The kitchen catchers help store food waste separate from garbage.
Some techniques that work to reduce the ‘ick factor’ for food waste include:
- Use newspaper as a liner in the kitchen catcher;
- Purchase compostable paper bags from a hardware or grocery store;
- Freeze your food waste to eliminate odour and fruit flies;
- An alternate option is to purchase a countertop dehydrator.
- Use available yard waste like grass or leaves to surround the food waste in your bin
Are there other contaminants that I should watch out for?
Small plastics such as labels for bananas and apples should be removed and placed in the garbage. These labels are so small and light that they cannot be separated from the finished compost. Other small plastics tags or metal twist ties should be kept separate from food waste.
Can I keep food waste in the packaging it came in?
No! All packaging will need to be kept separate from food waste. Depending on the type of packaging, clean packaging can be recycled at home or brought to a depot for recycling. Learn more about how to recycle clean packaging at the RecycleBC webpage.
What if I have packaging mixed with food waste?
If you have packaging mixed with food waste then it must go in the garbage. If you are unable to rinse it out then please do not contaminate the food waste or recycling programs - place it in the garbage.
How do I reduce animal interactions because of my garbage/food waste?
This program is not introducing new garbage/food waste, it is just managing it differently. Where before those attractants went in your grey bin, now they are going in your green bin. Here are some of the ways to reduce animal interactions:
- Keep all food waste or smelly garbage inside until the morning of collection (as per the Bylaw);
- Consider freezing food waste to reduce odours; or,
- Explore purchase of a counter top food scraps digester if other options don’t work for you.
What if my garbage collection needs exceed my current bin size for bi-weekly collection?
We understand that everyone’s garbage production circumstances are different and some people may require additional garbage volumes. Summerland provides options for larger garbage carts at an additional cost.
Alternatively, properties can purchase Tag-A-Bag stickers for extra bags of garbage to be collected. Tag-A-Bags are available for additional garbage or yard & garden waste and can be purchased at Municipal Hall for $2.50 each. For periods of significant surplus garbage, a visit to the landfill might be the best choice.
Does this mean you are reducing how much garbage we can place out?
The intent of the program is to reduce garbage going into the landfill. Garbage will be collected every two weeks reducing the volume of garbage collected. However, as noted above, options are available for people who have hard-to-manage garbage volumes.
Is it fair for properties to pay more for garbage?
Charging more to properties that produce more garbage is fair. In the many other communities that launched this identical program the majority of properties had no problem switching to every other week collection. Reducing waste going to our landfill is a major reason why Summerland is implementing food waste collection. Charging for garbage is a proven way to reduce garbage while increasing recycling and composting.
Is my Recycling program affected?
No. Recycling collection will remain unchanged, with collection every two weeks. Summerland is also continuing to hold One Day Recycling Events for recycling plastic bags, plastic wrappers, Styrofoam packaging, batteries and glass.
Recycling is a great example of another waste diversion program, where changes in how we manage that waste has made a big difference to our landfill, and in our environmental stewardship.
How can I get a different sized cart?
Visit the ‘Cart Change Out’ page on the Summerland webpage, e-mail works@summerland.ca or call 250-494-0431.
Can I drop off food waste at the landfill?
Not at this time. Summerland is starting with residential food waste collection and will consider other programs in the future.
What happens if I place garbage in the Yard Waste cart?
Contamination that makes it to the compost site will be removed when the materials arrive and when the compost is screened. Compost makes food. Contaminating the compost should be avoided.
Presently collection vehicles have cameras looking at materials collected. If a driver sees a cart with contamination the driver will record the address and provide this information to the District.
Will you continue with Unlimited Yard Waste Collections in the spring and fall?
Yes. The large pulses of yard waste in the spring and fall make it easier to do Unlimited Yard Waste Collections for the collector and residents. Check the collection calendar for dates. As an added benefit to the weekly collection of the green bin, this also means residents will have more ability to manage their yard waste through the green bin as well.
What if I compost at home and don’t want the food waste collected?
Residents are encouraged to keep home composting. Home composting is a great way to use leaves, vegetable and fruit scraps. The food waste collection program will allow for homes to place out all food scraps including meat, bones, fish, cooked foods and breads that are not recommended for home composting. The collection change impacts all single-family homes in Summerland.
Is food waste collection available for multi-family units or commercial properties?
Not yet. The District is starting with curbside collection from single family homes first. Once home food waste collection is established, Summerland will look at options for multi-family units and commercial properties.
How can I raise concerns with the program?
Please e-mail works@summerland.ca or call 250-494-0431 if you have questions about your curbside collection program.
How long has the District been planning for the Organics Facility and Food Waste Collection Service?
The District has been working towards the rollout of this program for about five years. It has been a published Council priority since 2020, and both the facility construction and the residential organics collection project have been in the annual report of the District since 2021. The facility planning has also been in the published financial and capital plan documents of the District since 2019. A high-level timeline is as follows:
- March 2019: Council Direction to Apply for Organics Infrastructure Program Grant (Organics Facility Design and Construction)
- November 2019: Awarded Organics Infrastructure Grant
- January 2021: Council Direction to Apply for Organics Infrastructure and Collection Program Grant (Food Waste Collection)
- August 2021: Awarded Organics Infrastructure and Collection Grant
- September 2023: Grand Opening of Organics Facility
- January-April 2024: Food Waste Collection Program Rollout
- April 2, 2024: Official Transition to Food Waste Collection Program