Green Cart Recycling

Do you ever wonder if something should go in the Green Cart? Many types of food containers and packaging are made of more than one material, and these are the items that can be most confusing to recycle. Find out what goes where below:

• Coffee Cups
  • Keep coffee cups out of the green bin
  • Regular paper cups - Paper cups for both hot and cold beverages have a plastic liner, put these in the Blue Box or Containers Recycling Cart
  • Paper cups labelled "compostable" or "biodegradable" - put these in the garbage
  • Paper sleeves - put these in the Yellow Bag or Paper Recycling Cart
  • Plastic lids - Regular plastic lids can be recycled in Blue Box or Containers Recycling Cart
  • Plastic lids labelled "compostable" or "biodegradable" - put these in the garbage
• Takeout Containers
  • If you get a paper takeout container, do the grease test. If the grease goes through, it’s safe for the Green Cart. If it doesn’t go through, it may have a coating or a plastic liner, and should go in the Yellow Bag or Paper Recycling Cart
• Tea Bags
  • If your tea bag tears easily when wet, it’s made of paper and can go in the Green Cart. If it doesn’t rip easily, it’s probably made of plastic, and goes in the garbage.
• Lined Paper Bags
  • If your paper bag has cellulose on the inside, it can be recycled in the Green Cart. If it’s lined with plastic (even plastic labelled "compostable" or "biodegradable"), put it in the garbage.
• Plastic Bags
  • Plastic and plastic-lined bags are not accepted in the Green Cart – even the ones labelled "compostable" or "biodegradable." When they end up in the Green Cart, they can cause operational problems, may not break down properly during processing, and may contaminate the finished compost.
  • If you use a plastic bag to line your kitchen catcher, empty the contents of the bag into the green bin, and then throw the bag in the garbage.
• Plastic Items Labelled "Compostable" or "Biodegradable"
  • Many certified "compostable" or "biodegradable" plastics may not sufficiently biodegrade in existing commercial composting or digestion facilities. To be safe, leave them out of your green bin.
  • Put items labelled "compostable" or "biodegradable" plastic items in the garbage. They are not accepted in recycling in BC.
  • Learn more

1. Collect food scraps in your kitchen containers.
2. Empty materials from kitchen container into the Green Cart and close the lid.
3. For residents with curbside collection - Place your Green Cart at the curb along with unlimited paper yard waste bags and/or Green Can with decals by 7:30 a.m. each week on your designated collection day. When setting your Green Cart out for collection, please ensure access to the sidewalk is not impeded.

For centralized Green Cart service, the collection details are arranged between the City and the Strata Council or Property Manager. Residents do not have to set the carts out for pick up.

• Put biodegradable or compostable plastic bags and other non-recyclable items like diapers in the garbage.
• Plastic bags labelled "biodegradable" or "compostable" are not accepted at local composting facilities because they cause operational problems. These bags may not break down properly during processing and may contaminate the finished compost.
• If you use a plastic bag to line your kitchen container, empty the contents of the bag into the Green Cart, and then put the bag in the garbage.

• Wrap food scraps in small amounts of newspaper or used paper towel before adding to your kitchen container.
• Sprinkle kitchen container with baking soda to reduce odours.
• Consider freezing food scraps until you're ready to empty them into the Green Cart.
• Line kitchen container with newspaper or paper bag liner (available for purchase at you local retail stores).
• Wash your kitchen container regularly.

Do not pour fats, cooking oils, grease or sauces down the drain. These materials can block sewer pipes, which can be costly to replace or repair.

Recycling Tips:

• Absorb small amounts with used napkins/paper towel before washing dishes and recycle napkins in your Green Cart.
• Bring large quantities of used cooking oil to the Richmond Recycling Depot.

• Keep animals and insects out by closing and securing Green Cart lids at all times (just as you would with your garbage).
• Avoid putting food scraps in paper yard waste bags unless you are placing the bags in the Green Cart.
• Store your Green Cart in a shady area out of direct sunlight, or consider storing your Green Cart and paper yard waste bags inside a shed or garage until collection day

Green Cart program is available to residents in multi-family complexes like apartments and condominiums to provide convenient food scraps recycling.

• Green Carts delivered and set up in central collection area
• Weekly or twice-weekly collection of Green Carts
• City-provided certified liners for the Green Carts
• Monthly cleaning service for the Green Carts
• Complimentary kitchen containers for food scraps for all residents in the building
• Signage and information materials to support using Green Carts

Opting Out of the Green Cart Program

If a multi-family complex prefers to make arrangements with an alternate service provider for organics recycling, which includes both yard and garden trimmings and food scraps, the City of Richmond offers an opt-out option. To opt out of Green Cart service, the property management company and/or strata council for the multi-family complex must meet the requirements outlined in the Solid Waste and Recycling Regulation Bylaw No. 6803.

This includes completing a Green Cart Opt Out Application Form, an organics waste diversion plan and ensuring the following arrangements are in place:

• An organics recycling program to collect and recycle yard and garden trimmings and food scraps separately from other garbage;
• Organics collection receptacle wherever there is a garbage and/or recycling collection point;
• An odour management plan, which includes cleaning organics recycling receptacles on a regular basis; and
• Minimum weekly pick-up of organics contracted with hauler/service provider which is confirmed by providing the City of Richmond with a copy of the service contract.

The City must review and approve the organics waste diversion plan in advance and reserves the right to complete site inspections to ensure compliance of the applicant's organics waste diversion plan. If applicants are approved for opting out of the City's service for organics collection, the complex is exempted from the City's charge for this service and is no longer eligible to receive City resources (such as kitchen containers, cart liners, educational materials and other resources) for the implementation of their organics waste diversion plan.

Metro Vancouver lists companies that provide organics recycling service. Most commercial operations require customized recycling services, which do not fit the parameters of the City’s Green Cart program. For details on service options available, please, select the link that's relevant to you:

• Grocers
• Restaurants

For other commercial sectors, please call Recycling Council of BC at 604-732-9253

Green Carts are available in multiple sizes and they're on display at the Richmond Recycling Depot. Please email Environmental Programs Office or call 604-276-4010 or for details. The cost to exchange a Green Cart is $25.

Two ways to get a kitchen container:

1. Pick up at Richmond Recycling Depot
2. Call 604-276-4010

Should you use a Garburator or other in-sink disposal system instead of the Green Cart? No, in-sink disposal systems are not an environmentally friendly option to get rid of your food scraps. It requires a considerable amount of water to run, can cause grease build up and blockages, increases cost for the City's sewer system and sewage treatment facilities and negatively impacts aquatic life.