Multi-Family Food Scraps Recycling

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Multi-Family Food Scraps Recycling Program is here!

The City of Burnaby has expanded our single and two-family food scraps collection program to Multi-Family complexes that currently receive City garbage and recycling service.

Multi-Family Program Details

• Complexes must currently receive City garbage and recycling service.
• Participation must be approved by complex strata, co-op boards or, in privately owned complexes, the complex owner.
• Complexes will provide the City with a on-site complex contact person.
• Complexes will receive 240-litre Green Bin(s) based on the number of units in the complex (rental charges for Green Bins may apply).
• Green Bins are collected weekly by the City and must be placed out at an approved pick up location on collection day.
• Green Bins may not be lined with plastic or biodegradable "plastic-like" liners. Only paper based products are allowed to wrap food scraps or to line the Green Bin(s).
• The City will provide educational materials for each unit in the complex, and program signage to be posted within the complex.

Sign up or Learn more

• Multi-Family Food Scraps Program application
• Multi-Family Food Scraps Brochure
• Multi-Family Food Scraps Pilot Project Council Report

Please send Multi-Family Food Scraps applications to:

• Mail: City of Burnaby
  4949 Canada Way, 4th Floor Engineering
  Burnaby, BC V5G 1M2 | Map
• Fax: 604-294-7425
• Email: engineering@burnaby.ca

For more information about the Multi-Family Food Scraps Recycling Program, please contact solidwasteandrecycling@burnaby.ca or call 604-294-7972 (Monday to Friday 8:00 AM-4:45 PM). 

Frequently Asked Questions

• Are all multi-family complexes in Burnaby required to have a food scraps recycling program?

  • Yes. Under the City's Solid Waste and Recycling Bylaw, the separation of food scraps from the garbage is required for all multi-family complexes in Burnaby.

• Why should I participate in my complex's food scraps recycling program?

  • While landfill disposal costs continue to rise (from $97/tonne in 2011 to $109/tonne for 2015), disposal of food scraps and food-soiled paper products is $53/tonne. So, in addition to helping the environment by sending less to the landfill, the Burnaby’s Food Scraps Recycling Program has the potential to save you money. Putting more into your complex’s Green Bin and less into the garbage may reduce your complex’s garbage collection requirements and costs. If you use a garburator, keep this in mind: garburators increase water-treatment costs for all taxpayers, and they also do not accept the wide range of foods that can go into your complex’s Green Bin (e.g. meats, bones and food-soiled papers).

• If our complex does not have City garbage and recycling service, can we still get food scraps collection from the City?

  • The City can only provide food scraps collection to complexes currently receiving City garbage and recycling service. Please contact your current waste hauler for details on services they may provide for food scraps collection

• Why do we have to wrap our scraps?

  • Wrapping your food scraps using one of the paper products will keep your kitchen collection container clean, and reduce odours and attractants in your complex's Green Bin. Adding some paper products to your complex's Green Bin along with your food scraps is beneficial to the composting process because it provides a good carbon source.

• What kind of food scraps are accepted in the Multi-Family Food Scraps Recycling Program?

  • Any food scraps and food-soiled paper materials are accepted. Any materials, such as large volumes of cooking oil or grease, plastic or any packaging is not accepted. Small amounts of cooking oil or grease from frying foods can be placed in the Green Bin providing it is absorbed into newspaper or paper towel. Refer to the Multi-Family Foods Scraps Brochure for details.

• How often will the City collect the food scraps from our complex?

  • Food scraps will be collected weekly from your complex.

• Where will our complex's Green Bin be located?

  • Your complex's Green Bin will be located beside your current garbage and recycling area and will have a label on the lid that says “Food Scraps Recycling” with information on what food scraps are acceptable.

• Are there companies that can clean our complex's Green Bins?

  • There are private companies you can hire to wash your Green Bins. Please contact the Recycling Council of BC Recycling Hotline 604-732-9253, they can provide you the company names and contact information.