Food Waste Collection Pilot Program

The Food Waste Collection Pilot Program (food waste pilot) was implemented as a step toward achieving one of the priorities set out in the 2023 to 2032 Waste Management Strategy. Diverting food waste from being disposed of in the landfill will help preserve air space in turn extending the life of the landfill and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The foot waste pilot involves nearly 4,000 participating residents located in 15 waste collection routes throughout the city.

In April 2024 one kitchen bucket for collecting food waste items, to empty into the green organics cart, was delivered to the participating residents with detailed instructions and information for the food waste pilot. The pilot, which included the collection of the green organics carts, concluded on December 31, 2024.

The Food Waste Pilot Has Ended and Here Are Some Achievements...

• The food waste pilot achieved a 30% reduction in food waste within the garbage stream, indicating pilot participants are using their kitchen bucket and green cart!
• The majority of pilot participants would be very likely to participate in a city-wide food waste collection program if implemented in the future.

What We Heard From Pilot Participants

• The pilot has effectively engaged residents and promoted better waste management practices.
• Based on survey results, after participating in the food waste pilot for a few months residents had fewer concerns about the implementation of a future city-wide food waste collection program.
• The biggest concerns about a food waste collection program were the messiness and added cost for an additional waste management service.

Final Collection Day for the Food Waste Pilot

After nine months of weekly collection, pilot households will have their final green cart collection the week of December 24 - 31, 2024. Pilot households are welcome to keep their kitchen bucket for personal use or with a private food waste collection service. As a reminder, green carts put out for leaf and yard collection after December 31, 2024, will not be collected. Green carts should be stored as usual over the winter, ready for use in the 2025 leaf and yard collection program.

We thank all of you who participated in the pilot and all those who have shown interest in it by sharing feedback through surveys or attending the Open House in September.