Sort'nGo Organics – Port Alberni

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Did you know that 30-50 per cent of the waste sent to the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District (ACRD)’s landfill isn’t actually garbage at all? It’s organic material – food and yard waste – that can be transformed into a renewable resource like compost.

That’s why the ACRD has launched a new Organics Collection Program in the City of Port Alberni – so you can redirect food and yard waste away from the landfill where it takes up space and creates higher greenhouse gas emissions. The new service that launched September 13, 2021 is part of a wider update to waste collection that will include moving to a 3-stream roadside cart system. Similar to garbage, recycling and organics will now be collected in carts and picked up at the roadside by collection trucks.


Funding to support upgrades to the new waste services, including the ACRD’s Regional Organics Implementation Project, is eligible through the Canada Community-Building Fund (formerly known as the Federal Gas Tax Fund). In 2020, the ACRD received a six million dollar grant that will fund the introduction of organics collection in the City of Port Alberni, the west coast of Tofino, Ucluelet and some surrounding communities, and engage with Alberni Valley electoral areas, Bamfield, First Nations and surrounding communities.


LATEST UPDATES:

Did you know that 30-50 per cent of the waste sent to the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District (ACRD)’s landfill isn’t actually garbage at all? It’s organic material – food and yard waste – that can be transformed into a renewable resource like compost.

That’s why the ACRD has launched a new Organics Collection Program in the City of Port Alberni – so you can redirect food and yard waste away from the landfill where it takes up space and creates higher greenhouse gas emissions. The new service that launched September 13, 2021 is part of a wider update to waste collection that will include moving to a 3-stream roadside cart system. Similar to garbage, recycling and organics will now be collected in carts and picked up at the roadside by collection trucks.


Funding to support upgrades to the new waste services, including the ACRD’s Regional Organics Implementation Project, is eligible through the Canada Community-Building Fund (formerly known as the Federal Gas Tax Fund). In 2020, the ACRD received a six million dollar grant that will fund the introduction of organics collection in the City of Port Alberni, the west coast of Tofino, Ucluelet and some surrounding communities, and engage with Alberni Valley electoral areas, Bamfield, First Nations and surrounding communities.


LATEST UPDATES:

Ask a question here

We’re sure you have questions about how the Organics Collection Service will ‘roll’ out and how you can get set to Sort'nGo. Post your questions here!

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    Checking to see if unused toilet paper can be added to the compost bin. Often there is a bit of paper at the end of the toilet paper roll, that you can't do anything with. It can be a small amount or a little more. So just seeing if it can be added to the compost bin. Thanks L. Lubiner

    LAL asked 20 days ago

    Hi L. Lubiner — thank you for your question. Yes, unused toilet paper can go in the organics cart. You can throw the cardboard toilet paper roll in too!

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    Can sawdust/wood shavings go in compost bin?

    Mike asked 3 months ago

    Hi Mike, thanks for your question. The answer is yes! Sawdust and wood shavings can go in the green organics cart. 

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    Are biodegradable wet wipes compostable?

    Dirk asked 5 months ago

    Hi Dirk — thank you for your question. The answer is no, unfortunately, like compostable plastics, wet wipes can’t be accepted in compost even if labeled biodegradable. That's because not all of these items break down the same way, over the same period of time, and can risk contaminating the compost stream. These should go in the garbage.

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    I used the sort and go app looking about cooking oil. It says green bin organics. Buts it's kinda messy. Can it really go in the cart?

    Lstunicrn asked 6 months ago

    Hi Lstunicrn - thanks for the question! Yes, small amounts of cooking oil can go in the green cart for composting — to make it a little less messy, try absorbing the oil first with a paper towel, or sawdust, and cover it with a paper bag or newspaper before disposing in the cart. For large amounts, there is a cooking oil disposal receptacle at the AV landfill. 

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    How come we never had a choice like rural areas do.

    Pat asked 9 months ago

    Hi Pat — thank you for your question. The electoral areas do not have a coordinated collection service (other than Beaver Creek which has recycling pickup) so there was a need for the ACRD to gauge interest and begin a dialogue around the possibility of introducing a new roadside service, which requires resident approval. The City of Port Alberni has had a longstanding roadside collection service in place for both recycling and garbage pickup, which was extended through the Sort’nGo program to include a new compost cart for the disposal of food and yard waste (which has historically gone into garbage carts).

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    Hi! We’re at Sproat Lake where we don’t have garbage collection. Where in town can we take compost?

    Am asked 9 months ago

    Hi Am — food and yard waste can be disposed of at the local facility, Earth Land & Sea at 4716 Tebo Ave (this is the same facility currently processing organic waste collected by the City through the Sort’nGo service).

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    Are these cans available for purchase by Sproat Lake residents. Having Bear issues and would really like to purchase 2 bear proof cans. I have been told this may be available at some time.

    Jayne asked about 1 year ago

    Hello Jayne - our apologies for the much-delayed response to this! It has taken some time but we're pleased to advise that garbage carts with wildlife deterrent locking mechanisms on them are available at the ACRD's landfill for purchase. The carts cost $150. Thank you for your patience.

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    How do I get a larger garbage bin? We were ok until the pick up spaced out. We are a family of four using a small garbage container and never did throw out compost.

    Sarah asked 12 months ago

    Hi Sarah -  Please contact the City at 720-2840 to notify them of your cart exchange request.

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    I was wondering if the plastic covering put over your dry cleaning should be going to the recycling depot. Thanks

    LAL asked 12 months ago

    Hello LAL - that would be a soft plastic that can be returned at the recycling depot.

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    We have two dwarf bunnies. Can their poop and soiled litter(newspaper and hay) go in the organics bin?

    Lynne asked about 1 year ago

    Hello Lynne - pet feces should be put in the garbage cart. Thank you for checking.

Page last updated: 16 Sep 2022, 10:12 AM