Food scraps collection may take another five months to become fully operational across the city, according to the City of Richmond.
Food scraps have been banned in garbage bins since Jan. 1, but a six-month grace period will allow city council to formulate a collections plan for multi-family dwellings, such as apartments, according to city spokesperson Ted Townsend.
“By July 1 all multi-family complexes will be given the opportunity to receive city provided organics service (collective pickup) or else they can arrange for their own private service, subject to it meeting standards for handling of the organics disposal,” noted Townsend via email.
Thereafter, waste collectors will fine strata councils if the garbage is contaminated with organic material.
Residents in condos and apartments must now dispose of their food scraps via a central scrap bin, typically found in the common garbage and recycling room. Or, stratas could incorporate a composting system.
The city already has about 5,000 multi-family units with food scrap pickup, a result of a pilot program from last year.
Residents of single-family homes and townhouses are reminded that items such as fruit peels, egg shells, bones, paper products and discarded vegetables can be placed in the large green cart where grass and yard clippings are stored.
The city a waste diversion goal of 80 per cent by 2020. Metro Vancouver’s goal is 70 per cent as of this year.
Organics recycling is said to produce fertile soil while clearing room at landfills and making miscellaneous garbage easier to burn into energy.
