Tip of the Day - 3 - Composting

• When organic waste goes to the landfill it is compressed under tons of other garbage with little oxygen, this means that it breaks down the same way as all the other garbage and produces methane - a greenhouse gas. In fact, methane from landfills makes up 3% of all greenhouse gases produced in Canada! If organic waste is composted it undergoes a process called aerobic respiration, which doesn't produce methane.
• Examples of organics include food wastes such as fruit & vegetable peelings and tea bags and yard wastes such as leaves, grass and plant trimmings
• Many municipalities provide compost bins for residents at subsidized rates. More and more municipalities are also starting to pick-up kitchen scraps at the curb along with your yard waste. To find out what composting services are available in your area call the RCBC Recycling Hotline at 604-732-9253 or 1-800-667-4321.
  
• Don't be put off by winter temperatures, wind and rain - you can compost throughout the year. The decomposition process slows down in winter, but it doesn't stop!

Want to try composting but worried about the "yuck factor"? Compost doesn't have to be messy. Keep your kitchen scraps in a Tupperware in the freezer to stop it from decomposing until you put it outside. Make sure to add dry material to your compost, like paper, leaves, or coconut coir (available at garden centres). If you take proper care of your compost it will break don't faster and it won't smell. If you don't want to use your finished compost check out www.tonsofdirt.com - you can list your compost for someone else in your area to use!
Don't have a yard? Try vermicomposting! The bins can be kept indoors or outside and will easily fit on an apartment balcony or in an office storage space.

Recycling Council of British Columbia

Recycling Questions? Call the Recycling Hotline!
In the Lower Mainland call 604-RECYCLE (732-9253) Other areas of the province call 1-800-667-4321
Hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm

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