Recycling & Organics

Green bin filled with various food scraps and vegetable peels, titled Green Bin User Guide for Kootenay Region.

Curbside Green Bin Program

The Regional District of Kootenay Boundary is excited to expand its successful curbside green bin collection program to Kootenay region residents!

Starting October 2023, homes in Trail, Rossland, Warfi eld, Montrose, Fruitvale, Area A and Area B – Lower Columbia/Old Glory will receive weekly curbside collection of organic kitchen scraps. Each household will receive an 80 litre curbside collection bin and a kitchen tote for under the sink. Use this guide to learn what can and cannot go in the bin, how to bear-safe your property, prevent food waste and much more!

Why a Green Bin Program?

The Regional District is committed to managing its impact on climate change. One way it is achieving this is by focusing on “zero waste” initiatives that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Household waste is typically made up of about 42% organic material.

When organic waste is buried in a landfi ll, it decomposes anaerobically – without oxygen – releasing methane greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. By diverting and composting organic waste through the green bin program, we expect to see an average annual reduction of 2,225 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. That equates to 495 cars driven for one year!

Diverting organic waste from the landfi ll has other great benefi ts. It…

  • Extends the life of the landfill,

  • Creates compost – a nutrient-rich resource for amending soil, and
  • Minimizes user fees paid for garbage disposal.

Participating in the green bin program makes sense (and cents)!