Curbside Organic Waste Collection Pilot Program

In the spring of 2021, all Yorkton residents were invited to take part in an organics survey. Of the respondents, 64% voted in favour of an organics collection program with an additional 26% responding 'maybe depending on cost.' The City has also received several resident inquiries regarding interest in a curbside organics program.

At December 19, 2022, Council Meeting, Council approved the option for Environmental Services to proceed with the residential organics collection pilot program in 2023. In February 2023, 400 residences were selected to participate in the residential curbside organics collection program.

From 2011 to 2021 the City observed a 57% increase in in-city refuses from May to October relative to the rest of the year. During the summer of 2022, waste audits were completed of in-city refuse and we found that organic material (yard and food waste) made up 52% of the total refuse by weight.

Scope of the project

The weekly organics collection program will be on the same day as the household's weekly garbage pickup.

Duration of the project

The project will start the week of April 17, and run until the week of October 30, 2023.

Zones Selected

Thursday and Friday collection zones were chosen based on the contractors preference and operational efficiency.

  • Streets were chosen within zones based on collection efficiency and with an attempt to get adequate zone representation.

What can and can not go in the new organics bin?

We are targeting two main types of organic waste:

  1. Organic yard waste such as leaves, grass clipping, and garden waste
  2. Food waste - 'scrape the plate' approach. Anything that can be consumed can go in the bin. Other compostable items such as coffee grounds and solidified fats/food grease are also acceptable.

What goes in:

  • All food scraps: as a 'scrape the plate' program, acceptable materials include fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, bones, bread, dough, pasta, grains, eggs, dairy products, and coffee grounds. Small amounts of cooking greases and oils.
  • Yard waste - lawn clippings and trimmings, leaves, garden waste, and flowers.
  • Plastic compostable bags

What stays out:

  • Tree branches and woody material
  • All paper products (pizza boxes, paper towels, napkins, Kleenex, newspapers)
  • Plastic bags (non-compostable)
  • Plastic single-use cutlery (even if labelled compostable)
  • Stickers, rubber bands, plastic labels and twist ties on produce
  • Aluminium foil
  • Pet feces
  • Diapers
  • Styrofoam

In the spring of 2021, all Yorkton residents were invited to take part in an organics survey. Of the respondents, 64% voted in favour of an organics collection program with an additional 26% responding 'maybe depending on cost.' The City has also received several resident inquiries regarding interest in a curbside organics program.

At December 19, 2022, Council Meeting, Council approved the option for Environmental Services to proceed with the residential organics collection pilot program in 2023. In February 2023, 400 residences were selected to participate in the residential curbside organics collection program.

From 2011 to 2021 the City observed a 57% increase in in-city refuses from May to October relative to the rest of the year. During the summer of 2022, waste audits were completed of in-city refuse and we found that organic material (yard and food waste) made up 52% of the total refuse by weight.

Scope of the project

The weekly organics collection program will be on the same day as the household's weekly garbage pickup.

Duration of the project

The project will start the week of April 17, and run until the week of October 30, 2023.

Zones Selected

Thursday and Friday collection zones were chosen based on the contractors preference and operational efficiency.

  • Streets were chosen within zones based on collection efficiency and with an attempt to get adequate zone representation.

What can and can not go in the new organics bin?

We are targeting two main types of organic waste:

  1. Organic yard waste such as leaves, grass clipping, and garden waste
  2. Food waste - 'scrape the plate' approach. Anything that can be consumed can go in the bin. Other compostable items such as coffee grounds and solidified fats/food grease are also acceptable.

What goes in:

  • All food scraps: as a 'scrape the plate' program, acceptable materials include fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, bones, bread, dough, pasta, grains, eggs, dairy products, and coffee grounds. Small amounts of cooking greases and oils.
  • Yard waste - lawn clippings and trimmings, leaves, garden waste, and flowers.
  • Plastic compostable bags

What stays out:

  • Tree branches and woody material
  • All paper products (pizza boxes, paper towels, napkins, Kleenex, newspapers)
  • Plastic bags (non-compostable)
  • Plastic single-use cutlery (even if labelled compostable)
  • Stickers, rubber bands, plastic labels and twist ties on produce
  • Aluminium foil
  • Pet feces
  • Diapers
  • Styrofoam

Ask a question here

We know you have questions and we're here with the answers. Ask us about the Organics Collection Program by posting your questions below. 

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  • Just wondering why you cannot put paper towel, napkins and also soiled (Pizza, Hamburger, French Fries) boxes and containers into compost bin as its allowed in Saskatoon and Regina?

    ken asked over 1 year ago

    Thank you for your question! The reason we chose not to accept paper products into our compost stream is for two main reasons:

    1. The Curbside Recycling program is set up to take clean cardboard and paper products. For simplicity, we wanted to keep those products running through the recycling program and not enter the organics pilot project. We had concerns that opening the door to food soiled cardboard/paper could lead to clean material entering the compost stream as well (which we did not want to happen).
    2. Second reason is that it is not as simple as all paper material can be broken down into compost. Coated cardboard (shiny) and heavily dyed cardboard (cereal boxes, beer/pop boxes) do not breakdown fast and lead to contamination in compost which needs to be screened out.      

  • Hi wondering if we can pick a compost bin to use as we our outside of the pilot area but would be willing to drop off compost to a drop off location thank you

    Cb asked over 1 year ago

    Thanks for the question! Unfortunately due to the logistics of cart collection we are currently only offering the curbside organics collection bins to residents within the pilot project area. We do however have a couple options where residents can drop their organic material off free of charge. One option is directly at the landfill - the landfill will take this material free of charge during regular business hours. A second option within the city is RecyclAbilities Enterprises at 180 Ball Road. Starting May 15 they are open extended hours and will have a drop off site accepting grass, leaves and organic yard waste.