FAQs

Yes. As of Dec. 1, 2023, organic waste from commercial properties can be sent to the composting facility at the West Coast Landfill. These properties – which includes multi-family residences - will have to coordinate hauling to the facility as there is no collection service in place for commercial properties at this time.

All food and yard waste can go to the composting facility, including grease, meat, dairy and bones. Food-soiled papers are also welcome (ie: napkins, paper plates or pizza boxes) as are wood fibre cutlery.

NO PLASTICS of any kind are allowed to be disposed of with compost – even plastic labelled as compostable.

There is no formal ‘service’ within the ACRD that gives the authority to establish a collection program and collect fees to pay for it. Creating a service is an extensive process that requires extensive review/planning and engagement, including voter approval.

Commercial properties in the region who are interested in diverting organics will need to make plans for hauling to the landfill organics facility. Options include hauling on their own, contacting a local private hauling company for collection or working with others to create a group plan for diverting waste

Reducing organics at the landfill will extend the facility’s lifespan and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The ACRD is working to divert as much organic material from the landfill as possible – including the introduction in January of new disposal fees at the landfill that are intended to encourage the reduction of waste.

Yes, there is a $5/min fee or $115/tonne (as per Bylaw R1033). If a load comes in with more than 10% contamination (materials that do not belong in organics disposal), double the fee will be charged.

There is no requirement for the type of container that you bring to the West Coast Landfill for drop-off. You can use whatever works for you!

Just like when you bring garbage to the landfill you are responsible for dumping the waste into the proper bins. You will go up to the compost area and drop it off in the marked area for drop-off.

Roadside organics collection is similar to the current recycling and garbage collection, with the addition of a roadside solution (green cart) for disposing of kitchen and yard waste, which isn't actually garbage but the key ingredients to making nutrient-rich compost. By collecting this organic waste separate from garbage, it can be diverted from the landfill to a new composting facility.

An automated collection service relies on a truck using a mechanical arm to pick up and empty carts. Currently, the method for waste collection on the west coast is manual, where the driver exits the vehicle and physically empties each bin. Upgrading recycling and garbage and soon to be organics into this automated system means the standardized collection carts that residents place curbside will create a more efficient system for residents and the waste collector.

Before organics collection started, food waste accounted for 43 per cent of the total waste at the West Coast landfill  – that is a lot of space that should be saved for actual garbage. By diverting organics, the ACRD willextend the lifespan of the landfill and create compost that can be returned to the community.

Organics also create harmful emissions at the landfill when buried under layers of other waste. Without access to oxygen to decompose properly, this waste creates methane, which is a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming and other harmful environmental issues. 

Organic diversion from landfill is a high priority for provincial and federal governments as well; 100 per cent of the capital costs associated with this project are funded through grants. 

Garbage collection was reduced because waste composition studies have shown that up to 43 per cent of household waste being sent to the West Coast Landfill is organic or compostable. 

That means that once these items are diverted from the black waste carts, there is less overall garbage.

The Sort’nGo Organics service is part of larger updates to west coast waste management, which will include significant upgrades to the west coast landfill, including a new public waste diversion drop-off area and compost processing facility. These improvements will help support the transition to an automatic three-stream collection system.

Funding to support these upgrades, as part of the ACRD’s Regional Organics Implementation Project, is provided through the Canada Community-Building Fund (formerly known as the Federal Gas Tax Fund). In 2020, the ACRD received a $6M grant to fund the introduction of organics collection within the ACRD. The service was launched in Port Alberni in September 2021, with public consultation occurring in 2022 for Alberni Valley electoral areas, Bamfield, and surrounding First Nations communities.

Yes, this service is for single-family homes only, which are dwellings with four or fewer units. The ACRD's goal is to include multi-family units and businesses in organics collection in the coming years, with this new residential service a first step towards the ultimate goal of redirecting all organics from the landfill. 

Yes, the new service applies to all residential units with four or fewer units - including those used for short-term rentals. 

Any dwelling that has over four units is considered commercial, and will need to acquire commercial collection, as well as be required to submit a waste management plan detailing how organics, recycling and garbage will be managed as per the provisions outlined in the bylaw. 

ACRD residents can keep track of collection schedules, sign up for collection alerts and check what items belong in what carts (or where to take them) with the Sort’nGo ACRD app, available for iPhones or Androids at the Apple Store or Google Play.

A desktop version of the app is also available here: https://api.recollect.net/r/area/ACRD

Ozzard Environmental will continue to provide waste service for Tofino and Ucluelet, and are acquiring the necessary equipment needed as we upgrade to an automated cart collection service.

We are working on the details and looking into developing an option for organics drop-off. Please check back here for updates.

Currently, residents are already dealing with pests and wildlife in their garbage, but the Sort'nGo service is aiming to remove food waste from the garbage stream and collect it in a new green cart for composting.

To decrease animal interactions, certified wildlife-resistant locking mechanisms will be provided for both the new (green) organics and new (black) garbage carts. 

Keep the locking mechanisms clasped to the cart lids throughout the week. When setting out carts for pickup, unclasp clips from the lid lock and clasp hooks to each of the cart's lid handles (see photo below). This will ensure the cart lid can open easily during collection while keeping the hooks from swinging loose and damaging your carts as they’re emptied into the truck. 

Carts should also be anchored - using a concrete block, or anchors - so that a bear cannot relocate them.                                                       

Carts are best stored inside away from entry doors, such as a pantry or a garage. If carts must be stored outside they will need to be properly secured. This is the #1 reason animals are able to get access, damage carts and increase the risk of human-wildlife conflict. 

We recommend securing carts to a concrete surface with cinder blocks, cables or chains and carabiners that may be obtained from Windsor Plywood or Slegg Lumber (chains and carabiners are also available at the Tofino/Ucluelet Co-ops). Supplies are also be available to purchase at Ozzard Environmental Recycling Depots in Tofino and Ucluelet. 

A Note on Shed Storage                 

• All types of outdoor sheds are not strong enough to prevent bears from accessing their contents unless they are secured with electrical fencing. 
• A subsidy to help people cover the cost of electric fencing (50% up to 500$) is available through WildSafeBC. Funding is on a first come first serve basis. For more information email pacrim@wildsafebc.com.           

Tofino Bylaw

• For residents in Tofino, please refer to the District of Tofino's Wildlife Attractant Bylaw No. 1317 for more on requirements in your district. 

Resources & Guides

• Watch our video for 'tips to bear in mind' when storing and securing carts: youtube.com/watch?v=HVvqwZxzLiY
• Read more on how to secure carts with guides and resources from WildsafeBC: wildsafebc.com/resources/guides/

The District of Tofino is adopting a Wildlife Attractant Bylaw (No. 1317) that takes effect on Nov 1, 2022. This will require that residents manage their waste to help prevent wildlife interactions.

Adhering to requirements will be critical in ensuring community safety, keeping our bears wild and helping turn our food and yard waste into nutrient-rich compost for our local green spaces. 

Read the bylaw at:  https://talktofino.ca/31344/widgets/127672/documents/87210 

The default service for residents will include one 120L organics cart (42H x 19W x 22Din), one 120L garbage cart and one 240L recycling cart (43H x 24W x 35Din) at the cost of $200/year. 

1. On-street parking: place with wheels facing the curb (not the collection truck)
2. No on-street parking: place at teh end of the driveway. 
3. Gravel shoulder: place just off road on shoulder.

Yes. Residents and homeowners who think they need additional capacity for organics or garbage can request larger carts, for an additional service fee — although we do ask that you consider this 'food waste for thought' before upsizing.

For more information on the additional capacity cart options: https://www.letsconnectacrd.ca/sortngo-west-coast/news_feed/news-feed

Smaller cart sizes are not available. The default cart sizes include one organics cart (120L or 42Lx19Hx22Din), one garbage cart (120L) and one recycling cart (240L or 43x24X35in) at the cost of $200/year. 

The cart tags are no longer available or accepted, as the three new uniform carts per household offer significantly larger capacity for waste than the bins/bags used previously for recycling and garbage. Homeowners who require additional capacity for organics or garbage will be able to request larger carts for an additional service fee and adjusted annual fee Learn more here: www.letsconnectacrd.ca/sortngo-west-coast/news_feed/news-feed

When we think about what belongs in an organics cart, let’s think about materials that have the ability to break down safely within the natural environment. 

What Goes In: 

• All food scraps: as a ‘scrape the plate’ program acceptable materials include fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, shellfish, bones, bread, dough, pasta, grains, eggs, dairy products and coffee grounds. Small amounts of cooking greases and oils that can be absorbed by paper towels.
• Paper waste - paper coffee filters, towels, tissues, newspaper and cardboard including greasy pizza boxes
• Yard waste - lawn clippings, trimmings, wood chips and branches (max 2ft long / 2” diameter)

What Stays Out: 

• Plastic compostable bags 
• Plastic single-use cutlery (even if labelled compostable) 
• Stickers, rubber bands, plastic labels and twist ties on produce
• Invasive weeds (i.e., blackberry bushes or scotch broom)
• Aluminum foil
• Pet feces
• Diapers

Please Note: Green carts should not be lined with plastic bags – even if labelled compostable or biodegradable. These products don’t break down in the same way, or time frame, and can contaminate our compost stream. Should liners be preferred please use newspaper or paper bags.

While the carts were sourced specifically to have large, heavy-duty wheels and a sturdy base to ensure maneuverability, seniors or those with disabilities/mobility issues can contact Ozzard Environmental for information on additional assistance with cart set-out. 

We do also suggest leaving empty carts near the roadside and using current containers, or something smaller near the home, before transferring to the carts on collection day. For those with long driveways, cart attachments for vehicles may also be an option.

Just like now, residents will be responsible for the carts and any replacements costs. Along with the locking mechanisms and proper set out times, residents need to consider garbage storage that could further reduce wildlife interactions, as is currently being done with garbage.

Opting out of three-stream curbside collection is not an option. 

Organic waste isn’t garbage, and by working together to keep it out of the garbage stream and transform it into compost, the whole community can benefit!

If high volumes of organic material continue to enter the landfill, greenhouse gas emissions will keep rising, which is going to lead to mandating a gas capture system. This type of system would increase costs to residents significantly when compared to an organic roadside collection service. 

This organic waste collection service has proven to be a successful diversion strategy and cost-effective solution in many other areas of BC. 

Diverting organics will also significantly decrease the amount of waste that’s going to the landfill, which means we can extend the life of the landfill that we all rely on for decades to come, and postpone the high costs of either siting a new facility or shipping waste out of the community.

That’s great! We still encourage backyard composting but the bonus of an organics curbside collection is another way to divert waste – you’ll now be able to dispose of those items that are unsuitable for backyard systems like meat, fish, poultry, bones and dairy. 

As well, yard waste like branches will be accepted in the new green organics carts, which currently requires chipping prior to composting.

The organic waste material collected will be composted at a local facility, and the finished product will be returned to community parks and outdoors where it will help keep our spaces green.

A new public waste diversion drop-off area and a compost processing facility are part of the upgrades being made to the West Coast landfill. These improvements will help support the transition to a new automatic three-stream collection system.

Funding to support these upgrades, as part of the ACRD's Regional Organics Implementation Project, is provided through the Federal Gas Tax Fund.

The ACRD has introduced a new bylaw (No. R1036) to ensure sorting requirements are being met by residents under the Sort’nGo service. 

We’re focusing on how we can all become waste reduction heroes, with education on how to sort and what to sort, but having bylaws means homes with repeated infractions may be subject to missed collections or fines.

Not with plastic. Paper-only liners like cardboard or newspaper is acceptable but absolutely no plastics of any kind belong in the green organics carts, even plastics that are labeled compostable or biodegradable. 

Why? 

Because these labels are not consistently regulated in the industry, meaning they may not be able to break down as required, which can contaminate the stream. 

Avoid contaminating the composting stream and use newspaper, cardboard or other paper-based items for liners.