Organic Waste Diversion

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Diverting Organic Waste from RDCK Landfills:

The RDCK now has disposal and processing infrastructure to accept and turn organic waste into compost, diverting this material from our finite, regional landfills.

Check out this video about the Castlegar Curbside Green Bin Program and the Central Composting Facility!

Public Access

Separated Organic Waste can now be disposed by residential and commercial customers at the following RDCK facilities:

All Facilities are CLOSED on ALL Statutory Holidays

Facility

Hours of Operation

Creston Landfill

  • Tuesday - Saturday 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Central (Salmo) Transfer Station

  • Summer(May 1 to September 30)
    Wednesday & Saturday
    9:00 am - 3:00 pm
  • Winter(October 1 to April 30)
    Wednesday & Saturday
    10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Grohman Narrows Transfer Station

  • Monday to Saturday
    8:30 am - 5:30 pm

Ootischenia Landfill

  • Summer(April 1 to October 31)
    Monday to Saturday
    8:30 am - 5:30 pm
  • Winter(November 1 to March 31)
    Monday to Saturday
    8:30 am - 4:00 pm


When you bring your separated organic waste in a container (max 120 liters) along with your household garbage, you can dispose of the organics for free. If you have more than 1 container, the 2nd and 3rd, cost $2.50 each. More than 3 containers will be charged the minimum fee of $9.75.

Just bringing containers of organics? The cost is $2.50 per container.

Any loads from the public that could fill a pick-up truck bed (1.5m³) or greater requires 48-hour notice. Call 250-352-8161 to book a disposal appointment.

Accepted Materials

The RDCK Composting Facilities can take a wider range of materials than can typically be composted at home, such as meats, small bones, dairy and cooked foods.

Other Accepted Materials

  • Animal bedding: straw, hay, wood shavings, untreated saw-dust
  • Livestock Manure: from cattle, goats, horses, sheep, pigs, poultry
  • Brewery waste/winery waste: non-liquidspent grains, grapes, hops or yeast
  • Dairy processing waste: non-liquid material from processing dairy

Prohibited Materials

Essentially, if it wasn't once food you'd have in your kitchen, or made of 100% paper/cellulose, it probably doesn’t belong.

Other Prohibited Items include:

  • Noxious and invasive weeds
  • Infested/diseased vegetation
  • Domestic septic tanks sludge
  • Loads containing more than 5% free liquid
  • Pet or human hair
  • Specified Risk Materials

Organic waste disposal is governed by the Resource Recovery Facilities Regulatory Bylaw.

Why Composting, Why Now?

Reduce Landfill Emissions

Rotting organic waste buried in the landfill creates methane* (CH4). Methane is a Greenhouse Gas (GHG) more potent that CO2**, and traps heat from the sun in the atmosphere. Landfill GHG emissions accelerate climate change by contributing to the generation of methane.


Extend Landfill Life

We don't have limitless space in our landfills. Keeping organic waste out of the trash frees up much needed capacity and extends their working life. While we’ve planned for the future and manage landfills for the long-term, the added space buys time and reduces the long-term costs of putting what can’t be re-used or recycled in its final resting place.


Less Trash More Soil

Organic waste provides a valuable resource when properly composted. Compost helps recycle nutrients back into soil, and healthy soils grow healthy plants. Additionally, soil itself stores carbon from the atmosphere - the more life within soil, the more carbon captured and stored.

How it Works

Composting occurs when high nitrogen organic material (greens) is mixed with high carbon organic material (browns) in ideal ratios, with plenty of oxygen and proper moisture. This environment allows decomposing microbes to thrive as they rapidly break down these organic wastes into a rich, alive, nutrient dense product known as compost. Compost is an excellent soil amendment, as these nutrients are readily available to plants for their growth.

The Central and Creston Composting Facilities both use active aeration to maintain proper temperature and oxygen levels during the decomposition period. This simple and proven technology combines clean wood and yard and garden waste with food and other organic waste. The mixed material is then placed over aeration piping in long piles called windrows.

This method promotes active decomposition, limits odours, prevents methane generation, and produces a safe, high- quality product. Once available, the RDCK will be selling to the public and making available to partners the Class-A compost produced at these facilities.

Diverting Organic Waste from RDCK Landfills:

The RDCK now has disposal and processing infrastructure to accept and turn organic waste into compost, diverting this material from our finite, regional landfills.

Check out this video about the Castlegar Curbside Green Bin Program and the Central Composting Facility!

Public Access

Separated Organic Waste can now be disposed by residential and commercial customers at the following RDCK facilities:

All Facilities are CLOSED on ALL Statutory Holidays

Facility

Hours of Operation

Creston Landfill

  • Tuesday - Saturday 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Central (Salmo) Transfer Station

  • Summer(May 1 to September 30)
    Wednesday & Saturday
    9:00 am - 3:00 pm
  • Winter(October 1 to April 30)
    Wednesday & Saturday
    10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Grohman Narrows Transfer Station

  • Monday to Saturday
    8:30 am - 5:30 pm

Ootischenia Landfill

  • Summer(April 1 to October 31)
    Monday to Saturday
    8:30 am - 5:30 pm
  • Winter(November 1 to March 31)
    Monday to Saturday
    8:30 am - 4:00 pm


When you bring your separated organic waste in a container (max 120 liters) along with your household garbage, you can dispose of the organics for free. If you have more than 1 container, the 2nd and 3rd, cost $2.50 each. More than 3 containers will be charged the minimum fee of $9.75.

Just bringing containers of organics? The cost is $2.50 per container.

Any loads from the public that could fill a pick-up truck bed (1.5m³) or greater requires 48-hour notice. Call 250-352-8161 to book a disposal appointment.

Accepted Materials

The RDCK Composting Facilities can take a wider range of materials than can typically be composted at home, such as meats, small bones, dairy and cooked foods.

Other Accepted Materials

  • Animal bedding: straw, hay, wood shavings, untreated saw-dust
  • Livestock Manure: from cattle, goats, horses, sheep, pigs, poultry
  • Brewery waste/winery waste: non-liquidspent grains, grapes, hops or yeast
  • Dairy processing waste: non-liquid material from processing dairy

Prohibited Materials

Essentially, if it wasn't once food you'd have in your kitchen, or made of 100% paper/cellulose, it probably doesn’t belong.

Other Prohibited Items include:

  • Noxious and invasive weeds
  • Infested/diseased vegetation
  • Domestic septic tanks sludge
  • Loads containing more than 5% free liquid
  • Pet or human hair
  • Specified Risk Materials

Organic waste disposal is governed by the Resource Recovery Facilities Regulatory Bylaw.

Why Composting, Why Now?

Reduce Landfill Emissions

Rotting organic waste buried in the landfill creates methane* (CH4). Methane is a Greenhouse Gas (GHG) more potent that CO2**, and traps heat from the sun in the atmosphere. Landfill GHG emissions accelerate climate change by contributing to the generation of methane.


Extend Landfill Life

We don't have limitless space in our landfills. Keeping organic waste out of the trash frees up much needed capacity and extends their working life. While we’ve planned for the future and manage landfills for the long-term, the added space buys time and reduces the long-term costs of putting what can’t be re-used or recycled in its final resting place.


Less Trash More Soil

Organic waste provides a valuable resource when properly composted. Compost helps recycle nutrients back into soil, and healthy soils grow healthy plants. Additionally, soil itself stores carbon from the atmosphere - the more life within soil, the more carbon captured and stored.

How it Works

Composting occurs when high nitrogen organic material (greens) is mixed with high carbon organic material (browns) in ideal ratios, with plenty of oxygen and proper moisture. This environment allows decomposing microbes to thrive as they rapidly break down these organic wastes into a rich, alive, nutrient dense product known as compost. Compost is an excellent soil amendment, as these nutrients are readily available to plants for their growth.

The Central and Creston Composting Facilities both use active aeration to maintain proper temperature and oxygen levels during the decomposition period. This simple and proven technology combines clean wood and yard and garden waste with food and other organic waste. The mixed material is then placed over aeration piping in long piles called windrows.

This method promotes active decomposition, limits odours, prevents methane generation, and produces a safe, high- quality product. Once available, the RDCK will be selling to the public and making available to partners the Class-A compost produced at these facilities.

Ask a question

 Ask a question about the RDCK Organic Waste Diversion Program. Staff will respond to your question within 3-5 business days and post the answer here. 

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  • Share Will the Nakusp Landfill eventually have this service? With the improvements to the size and usability of the site, along with being changed into a transfer station, it would be great to also have this option, in general to keep as much waste out of landfills and transfer stations as we can, but for organics in particular, to help mitigate the out of control rat population currently afflicting Nakusp. on Facebook Share Will the Nakusp Landfill eventually have this service? With the improvements to the size and usability of the site, along with being changed into a transfer station, it would be great to also have this option, in general to keep as much waste out of landfills and transfer stations as we can, but for organics in particular, to help mitigate the out of control rat population currently afflicting Nakusp. on Twitter Share Will the Nakusp Landfill eventually have this service? With the improvements to the size and usability of the site, along with being changed into a transfer station, it would be great to also have this option, in general to keep as much waste out of landfills and transfer stations as we can, but for organics in particular, to help mitigate the out of control rat population currently afflicting Nakusp. on Linkedin Email Will the Nakusp Landfill eventually have this service? With the improvements to the size and usability of the site, along with being changed into a transfer station, it would be great to also have this option, in general to keep as much waste out of landfills and transfer stations as we can, but for organics in particular, to help mitigate the out of control rat population currently afflicting Nakusp. link

    Will the Nakusp Landfill eventually have this service? With the improvements to the size and usability of the site, along with being changed into a transfer station, it would be great to also have this option, in general to keep as much waste out of landfills and transfer stations as we can, but for organics in particular, to help mitigate the out of control rat population currently afflicting Nakusp.

    S Cunningham asked 29 days ago

    Hi there,
    Thanks for the great question. Organics diversion services for Nakusp is part of the RDCK's Resource Recovery Plan, and work is being done to support options for the Nakusp area to participate. We agree that keeping as much waste out of landfills as possible is essential, for many reasons including wildlife, pests, and environmental issues. Stay tuned as we work towards expanded organic waste diversion services. For now, disposal of organic waste is only available at the following sites:
    - Grohman Narrows Transfer Station
    - Ootischenia Landfill
    - Central (Salmo) Transfer Station
    - Creston Landfill

  • Share Is there an organics container that can be purchased and reused? I live in Area J. on Facebook Share Is there an organics container that can be purchased and reused? I live in Area J. on Twitter Share Is there an organics container that can be purchased and reused? I live in Area J. on Linkedin Email Is there an organics container that can be purchased and reused? I live in Area J. link

    Is there an organics container that can be purchased and reused? I live in Area J.

    Treena asked about 1 month ago

    Hi there!
    Any container that meets you needs in terms of sizing etc. can be used. A 5 gallon bucked with a clasping lid works really well and usually won't be too heavy to lift into the car or dump at the disposal facility. Something like this one would work well. https://www.homehardware.ca/en/24l-white-maxi-garbage-can-with-lid/p/4438371. As long as the container is less that 120 liters, it can be disposed of at the container price ($2.50, or 1 disposed of for free if brought with mixed waste). 

  • Share Hi, So I'm a bit confused about the cost... We can bring our household compost waste to grohman and it will cost $2.25 per bucket up to 4 buckets only with household garbage? What would it cost to just bring compost to grohman? I live in Nelson and their compost machine that they have been providing people suck....use a machine and electricity then drive your dehydrated compost to their dumping sites. Not very environmental in my opinion, but hey that's nelson. Ha! I'd love to just drive my compost to grohman if possible. Or have the city pick it up like every other municipality. on Facebook Share Hi, So I'm a bit confused about the cost... We can bring our household compost waste to grohman and it will cost $2.25 per bucket up to 4 buckets only with household garbage? What would it cost to just bring compost to grohman? I live in Nelson and their compost machine that they have been providing people suck....use a machine and electricity then drive your dehydrated compost to their dumping sites. Not very environmental in my opinion, but hey that's nelson. Ha! I'd love to just drive my compost to grohman if possible. Or have the city pick it up like every other municipality. on Twitter Share Hi, So I'm a bit confused about the cost... We can bring our household compost waste to grohman and it will cost $2.25 per bucket up to 4 buckets only with household garbage? What would it cost to just bring compost to grohman? I live in Nelson and their compost machine that they have been providing people suck....use a machine and electricity then drive your dehydrated compost to their dumping sites. Not very environmental in my opinion, but hey that's nelson. Ha! I'd love to just drive my compost to grohman if possible. Or have the city pick it up like every other municipality. on Linkedin Email Hi, So I'm a bit confused about the cost... We can bring our household compost waste to grohman and it will cost $2.25 per bucket up to 4 buckets only with household garbage? What would it cost to just bring compost to grohman? I live in Nelson and their compost machine that they have been providing people suck....use a machine and electricity then drive your dehydrated compost to their dumping sites. Not very environmental in my opinion, but hey that's nelson. Ha! I'd love to just drive my compost to grohman if possible. Or have the city pick it up like every other municipality. link

    Hi, So I'm a bit confused about the cost... We can bring our household compost waste to grohman and it will cost $2.25 per bucket up to 4 buckets only with household garbage? What would it cost to just bring compost to grohman? I live in Nelson and their compost machine that they have been providing people suck....use a machine and electricity then drive your dehydrated compost to their dumping sites. Not very environmental in my opinion, but hey that's nelson. Ha! I'd love to just drive my compost to grohman if possible. Or have the city pick it up like every other municipality.

    ashleigh asked 6 months ago

    Hi there,
    Sorry for the confusion. You can bring any amount of organic waste to any of the four organic waste disposal facilities, with or without other waste categories. There is a per container charge, and a charge by weight if you exceed 4 containers. 

    The per container fee is $2.50. The minimum weight charge is $9.75. 

    That said, if you bring in organic waste by the container, with any amount of mixed waste (garbage), you can dispose of one container of organics for free. For example, if you bring in a bag of garbage to Grohman, it would cost you $4.00 for the garbage, and $0.00 for the container of organics. If you had one bag of garbage, and 2 containers of organics, it would cost you $4.00 for the garbage, and $2.50 for the 2 containers of organics. 

    Hope that makes sense, let us know if not and we'll try to clarify :)
    Cheers,

  • Share I have trouble understanding how I would transport and dump a container of compostable material. Maybe some pictures or a video. on Facebook Share I have trouble understanding how I would transport and dump a container of compostable material. Maybe some pictures or a video. on Twitter Share I have trouble understanding how I would transport and dump a container of compostable material. Maybe some pictures or a video. on Linkedin Email I have trouble understanding how I would transport and dump a container of compostable material. Maybe some pictures or a video. link

    I have trouble understanding how I would transport and dump a container of compostable material. Maybe some pictures or a video.

    Daisy asked 6 months ago

    Hello!
    Thanks for the feedback, Disposal of waste at all RDCK sites is very similar. You enter the site and are charged by the Attendants either by weight or by volume.
    A container of organic waste can be up to 120 liters, but more likely it will be something like a 5 gallon bucket. Staff at the sites will direct you to the correct bin, and there is also plenty of signage. You will need to lift it over the safety gate railing and dump into the organics bin, just like any other waste category. 

    Once full/when needed, bins are transported to a composting facility for processing.
    Let us know if any of that is unclear!
    Thanks, 

  • Share When will free compost be available to Trail residents. Terry Witt on Facebook Share When will free compost be available to Trail residents. Terry Witt on Twitter Share When will free compost be available to Trail residents. Terry Witt on Linkedin Email When will free compost be available to Trail residents. Terry Witt link

    When will free compost be available to Trail residents. Terry Witt

    xxx asked 10 months ago

    Hi there,

    The distribution plan for compost to make it to residents in the RDKB is still being developed. Given programs to accept and process organic waste into compost at our facilities has just started up, it will take some time before there is a supply of compost available for residents. Once there is a plan, both the RDCK and the RDKB will be notifying residents who have an interest in purchasing or receiving compost. Stay tuned!  

    RDCK Resource Recovery

  • Share Will it be possible for residents in our district to use the type of compost machine at home similar to the units now be distributed to City of Nelson residents? Can we obtain such units through the RDCK? on Facebook Share Will it be possible for residents in our district to use the type of compost machine at home similar to the units now be distributed to City of Nelson residents? Can we obtain such units through the RDCK? on Twitter Share Will it be possible for residents in our district to use the type of compost machine at home similar to the units now be distributed to City of Nelson residents? Can we obtain such units through the RDCK? on Linkedin Email Will it be possible for residents in our district to use the type of compost machine at home similar to the units now be distributed to City of Nelson residents? Can we obtain such units through the RDCK? link

    Will it be possible for residents in our district to use the type of compost machine at home similar to the units now be distributed to City of Nelson residents? Can we obtain such units through the RDCK?

    Debby Offermann asked about 1 year ago

    Hi there, 

    Thanks for your question. The RDCK is not involved in the City of Nelson's program to supply appliances to residents for organic waste diversion, and does not have a program to provide units to RDCK residents. 

    If you possess an appliance that grinds and dehydrates food waste, that material can either be composted at home, or if available in your area, brought to an RDCK facility that accepts organic waste for disposal. Please visit our website for up-to-date information on which facilities accept separated organic waste. rdck.ca/organics

    If you are wanting to bring your regular organic waste to RDCK facilities, such as kitchen scraps, cooked foods, meats and bones, food soiled paper, and other accepted organic wastes, you can either bring in your material by the container, or if you have more than 4 containers, you can drop it off by weight. 

    If you are bringing in your containers (max 120L) with your regular garbage, the first container is free to dispose of. After that, containers are charged at $2.20 each.

    Thanks again,

    RDCK Resource Recovery


  • Share Where is composting for Nelson residents? Will RDCK take the organic material from Nelson's compost machines and compost that material. Why is there a different composting method for Nelson than outside city limits. Will there be enough food waste to compost without Nelson's organic waste. Will grocery store in Nelson be composting their organic waste? on Facebook Share Where is composting for Nelson residents? Will RDCK take the organic material from Nelson's compost machines and compost that material. Why is there a different composting method for Nelson than outside city limits. Will there be enough food waste to compost without Nelson's organic waste. Will grocery store in Nelson be composting their organic waste? on Twitter Share Where is composting for Nelson residents? Will RDCK take the organic material from Nelson's compost machines and compost that material. Why is there a different composting method for Nelson than outside city limits. Will there be enough food waste to compost without Nelson's organic waste. Will grocery store in Nelson be composting their organic waste? on Linkedin Email Where is composting for Nelson residents? Will RDCK take the organic material from Nelson's compost machines and compost that material. Why is there a different composting method for Nelson than outside city limits. Will there be enough food waste to compost without Nelson's organic waste. Will grocery store in Nelson be composting their organic waste? link

    Where is composting for Nelson residents? Will RDCK take the organic material from Nelson's compost machines and compost that material. Why is there a different composting method for Nelson than outside city limits. Will there be enough food waste to compost without Nelson's organic waste. Will grocery store in Nelson be composting their organic waste?

    Tom Prior asked over 1 year ago

    Hi, thanks for your questions, 

    Information for the City of Nelson Organics Program can be found at nelson.ca/organics. The RDCK is working with the City of Nelson to support receiving the pre-treated material collected from their residential program, and composting it at the RDCK composting facility in Salmo. The City of Nelson program is only for residents of the municipality, and the RDCK has determined that the same method would not be as cost-effective as providing 3-stream curbside services to the Electoral Areas, at this time, and would likely divert less material from the landfill. The RDCK composting facility in Salmo will also be receiving organic wastes from the City of Castlegar and Regional District of Kootenay Boundary Greater Trail Area curbside collection program, as well as the commercial and institutional sectors, including grocery stores, over time.

  • Share How will you certify that people are not sending in inappropriate elements in their compost? on Facebook Share How will you certify that people are not sending in inappropriate elements in their compost? on Twitter Share How will you certify that people are not sending in inappropriate elements in their compost? on Linkedin Email How will you certify that people are not sending in inappropriate elements in their compost? link

    How will you certify that people are not sending in inappropriate elements in their compost?

    notforme asked over 1 year ago

    Hi, thanks for the question,

    The RDCK currently relies on municipalities with curbside services, haulers, and RDCK facility staff to ensure only acceptable materials are received into the composting facilities through education and waste-spotting. Contamination that makes it into the facilities is removed by operators who screen every load, and remove non-compostable items throughout the entire composting process. 

Page last updated: 26 Jul 2024, 04:14 PM