The compost collection carts and kitchen catcher bins are being distributed to Vernon households (photo by Liam Verster / Vernon Matters)

By Liam Verster

Organic Waste Collection

Organics carts rolling out in Vernon

Apr 5, 2022 | 3:30 PM

Vernonites will be receiving their compost bins over the next few weeks.

Starting today (April 5), the City of Vernon is distributing the new carts to households that receive curbside garbage collection. The carts are being distributed in phases, with every household expected to have received theirs within four weeks.

Gathered inside Vernon’s Council Chamber, Mayor Victor Cumming, Climate Action Advisory Committee Co-Chair Mary Stockdale, and Neil Davies, Emterra’s Vice President of Collection Operations in B.C., unveiled the new organic waste carts that are being distributed to Vernonites.

Mayor Victor Cumming, Climate Action Advisory Committee Co-chair Mary Stockdale and Emterra’s Vice-President of Collection Operations in B.C., Neil Davies, announce the rolling out of organic collection carts in Vernon (photo by Liam Verster / Vernon Matters)

“City council takes it’s commitment seriously to do what we can do to help care for the environment around us, to take practical steps to offer the best possible future for our children and this place we call home,” said Cumming.

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“That’s why we’re so excited that everything is on track to launch the new organics collection service for residents in the first week of May.”

Along with distributing the curbside collection cart, the city is providing residents with a kitchen catcher bin and a pamphlet containing information on the organic collection process.

The program is intended to divert organic kitchen and yard waste from the landfill, helping reduce the community’s greenhouse gas emissions.

“Kitchen food scraps and yard organic materials disposed in our landfill are our third largest source, seven per cent, of greenhouse gas emissions in Vernon,” said Stockdale.

The organic waste collection initiative is supported by the province.

“CleanBC is funding us up to 66 per cent of the $1.4-million project to launch the new organics collection service here in Vernon, amounting for a total of [$936,720] from the province,” said Cumming.

“While this program is directed to Vernon residents with curbside garbage collection, it is for every one of us who lives in Vernon and the surrounding area because when this program is in full swing, it will help make our whole community healthier and more liveable. And we will be able to make a tangible contribution to reducing our production of greenhouse gases, thus impacting our climate. That is a win for everyone.”

Stockdale told Vernon Matters that it’s important residents do their part and use this program to its full extent.

“The city is taking care of its part and it has got a system in place now, but the seven per cent [of greenhouse gas emissions] will only be reduced if we the public steps up and puts their organic waste in those bins,” said Stockdale.

“[People] are going to have to read the pamphlet like we had to with recycling, figure out what goes in the bins and what doesn’t. But it’s really going to reduce the garbage and that’s a real feeling of satisfaction when you realize you hardly have anything left to put in the garbage bin, which means less goes to the landfill and breaking down into methane and other greenhouse gases.”

The organics carts are 120 litres, though it was noted that 957 households have requested 240 litre carts.

A 120 litre organics collection cart, along with the kitchen catcher bin and information pamphlet (photo by Liam Verster / Vernon Matters)

Both the large curbside organics collection carts and the kitchen catcher bins can be lined with a BPI compostable bag. It was noted that biodegradable bags will not be allowed.

The carts will also not be suitable for disposing of metal or plastic recyclables; styrofoam; plastic waste; wood, concrete, metal or other building materials; personal hygiene products; diapers; and animal excrement.

In the case of instances where people are disposing of inappropriate items in these bins Cumming said collection staff will put stickers on the bins, notifying the residents of the requirements.

The carts will be delivered to the end of residents’ driveways over the next four weeks in conjunction with garbage collection days. Weekly compost collection will begin May 2.

When the compost collection service begins, the curbside garbage collection will transition from weekly pickup to one collection every two weeks.