City of Vancouver Food Scraps Program

Comments 84 by Rebecca Bollwitt

The City of Vancouver is celebrating the two year anniversary of the expanded city Green Bin program for food scraps recycling. This program allows residents to recycle all their food scraps and is now available to about 100,000 single family/duplexes households and 1,800 multi-unit residential buildings currently serviced by the City.

miss-604---egg

As of January 2015, a Metro Vancouver organics disposal ban on all food scraps comes into effect across the region. The regional ban will mean that food scraps will no longer be permitted in regular garbage. The City is also intending to make food scraps collection and diversion programs mandatory across all sectors of the City.

About The Green Bin/Food Scraps Program

To date, Vancouver households participating in the City’s Green Bin program have reduced the amount of garbage sent to the landfill by an average of about 40 per cent.

Recycling food scraps reduces the amount of garbage produced, cuts down on global warming pollution and creates a useful compost product for local gardens.

First introduced in 2010, the program allowed residents with City waste collection services to add uncooked fruit and vegetables to their Green Bin. In 2011, a pilot project was initiated to test an expanded program, allowing all food scraps and food soiled paper to be placed in bins, and included the proposed change in collection frequency.

The program was expanded in 2012 to all single family/duplex households and to 1,800 multi-unit residential buildings that receive waste collection service from the City. Since the switch to city-wide weekly organics pick-up and bi-weekly garbage pick-up, the City has seen compostable organics collected increase by approximately 64 per cent, and a 40 per cent decrease in garbage collected. That’s about 24,500 tonnes less garbage going to the landfill each year.

The City has also contributed funding to the Food Scraps Drop Spot Program through a Greenest City Grant that serves residents living in multi-unit residential building who don’t receive City collection service. As of July 1st, 2014, the program expanded to seven locations and has collected more than 120 tonnes of food scraps from 38,000 drops since the inauguration of the program in 2011.

Win a Zero Waste Holiday Prize Pack

To promote the organics disposal ban and information about food scraps recycling in the new years, the City of Vancouver and I both have a Zero Waste Holiday prize pack to give away that contains:

  • Family pass (2 adults, 2 children under age 17) for the Bright Nights Christmas Train in Stanley Park
  • Family pass (2 adults, 2 children under age 18) for the Festival of Lights at VanDusen Gardens
  • 2 reusable shopping bags
  • A water bottle
  • “Zero Waste Home” book

There are three ways that you can enter to win:

  • Take the Food Scraps 101 Quiz and you’ll be entered in the City’s draw.
  • Take the Food Scraps 101 Quiz and leave a comment back here with your score to be entered in my draw.
  • You can also post the following on Twitter to enter to win:
RT to enter to win a @CityofVancouver Zero Waste Holiday prize pack from @Miss604 http://ow.ly/D8znM #FoodIsntGarbage

Both my draw and the City of Vancouver’s draw will take place on November 5, 2014. I’ll draw my winner at 12:00pm that day. The winner of my prize pack is not eligible to win the City of Vancouver’s prize as well.

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84 Comments  —  Comments Are Closed

  1. Steph Wednesday, October 22nd, 2014 — 9:58am PDT

    Whoops clicked too fast, 6/10…

  2. Julie Verhoeven Wednesday, October 22nd, 2014 — 10:09am PDT

    7/10. I got the stats ones wrong, so I don’t mind!

  3. Chista Wednesday, October 22nd, 2014 — 10:54am PDT

    10/10!

  4. rob Wednesday, October 22nd, 2014 — 11:02am PDT

    9/10!

  5. Sabrina Wednesday, October 22nd, 2014 — 12:41pm PDT

    Bah – only got 6/10!

  6. Hannah Wednesday, October 22nd, 2014 — 2:44pm PDT

    8/10!

  7. Sanaz Wednesday, October 22nd, 2014 — 4:02pm PDT

    6/10 so I need to become more informed.

  8. maria Wednesday, October 22nd, 2014 — 4:13pm PDT

    8/10

  9. Angela griffin Wednesday, October 22nd, 2014 — 5:18pm PDT

    10/10!

  10. Mike Gismondi Wednesday, October 22nd, 2014 — 5:20pm PDT

    8/10

  11. Gail Wednesday, October 22nd, 2014 — 7:25pm PDT

    6\10

  12. bjh Wednesday, October 22nd, 2014 — 7:30pm PDT

    yikes, 5!

  13. Robert Wednesday, October 22nd, 2014 — 7:32pm PDT

    6/10

  14. sunshine h Wednesday, October 22nd, 2014 — 7:43pm PDT

    8/10….though I think one question was poorly worded/designed.

  15. Megan Wednesday, October 22nd, 2014 — 7:50pm PDT

    9/10!!

  16. Joyce Wednesday, October 22nd, 2014 — 7:52pm PDT

    8/10

  17. Dayna Wilson Wednesday, October 22nd, 2014 — 8:58pm PDT

    8/10!

  18. Teresa K Wednesday, October 22nd, 2014 — 9:29pm PDT

    6/10

  19. Linda Wednesday, October 22nd, 2014 — 9:29pm PDT

    10/10 – lucky 😉

  20. Kam Wednesday, October 22nd, 2014 — 10:29pm PDT

    6/10…

  21. Ron S Wednesday, October 22nd, 2014 — 11:20pm PDT

    6/10

  22. Sylvia Oates Thursday, October 23rd, 2014 — 7:01am PDT

    7/10

  23. iain Thursday, October 23rd, 2014 — 9:23am PDT

    80%.

  24. Greg Thursday, October 23rd, 2014 — 12:22pm PDT

    6/10

  25. Shirley Thursday, October 23rd, 2014 — 3:18pm PDT

    I got 7 out of 10.

  26. Meredith Thursday, October 23rd, 2014 — 6:36pm PDT

    7/10!

  27. Katherine Thursday, October 23rd, 2014 — 7:27pm PDT

    7/10

  28. Elinor Warkentin Thursday, October 23rd, 2014 — 8:24pm PDT

    I got 9/10, but it was my second try. 🙂

  29. Chris Thursday, October 23rd, 2014 — 8:59pm PDT

    10/10 – I think I’ve earned a prize pack.

  30. Albert Thursday, October 23rd, 2014 — 10:56pm PDT

    6/10 here :/

  31. Maryanne Thursday, October 23rd, 2014 — 11:06pm PDT

    6/10. Not great.

  32. Tony E Thursday, October 23rd, 2014 — 11:10pm PDT

    6/10, I need to do some studying!

  33. cecilia Thursday, October 23rd, 2014 — 11:20pm PDT

    I think I got 6/10 but I shut the window accidentally!

  34. Brenda A Thursday, October 23rd, 2014 — 11:45pm PDT

    7 out of 10

  35. Lisa Friday, October 24th, 2014 — 7:19am PDT

    8/10 great prize! thanks for the opportunity:)

  36. Alicia Friday, October 24th, 2014 — 9:59am PDT

    6/10. Darn!

  37. Sharylin Friday, October 24th, 2014 — 2:12pm PDT

    7/10

  38. MK Friday, October 24th, 2014 — 2:36pm PDT

    6 out of 10 – I learned some things today!

  39. Christine Friday, October 24th, 2014 — 2:57pm PDT

    7/10 not too shabby

  40. Krista Friday, October 24th, 2014 — 11:11pm PDT

    7/10

  41. Steve Saturday, October 25th, 2014 — 8:14am PDT

    7/10

  42. Laura Saturday, October 25th, 2014 — 8:17am PDT

    10 – but I watched someone go before me,…

  43. Eileen Saturday, October 25th, 2014 — 1:02pm PDT

    8/10

  44. Linda Saturday, October 25th, 2014 — 3:22pm PDT

    6/10

  45. Kate Sunday, October 26th, 2014 — 8:24am PDT

    7/10.

  46. Siobhan Sunday, October 26th, 2014 — 10:35am PDT

    I got 6/10. I guess I have a bit to learn. 🙂

  47. Michelle Sunday, October 26th, 2014 — 1:20pm PDT

    I only got 5/10 so embarrassed..

  48. Wally Monday, October 27th, 2014 — 11:17am PDT

    8/10.

  49. Kristina Monday, October 27th, 2014 — 12:14pm PDT

    8/10

  50. carol Monday, October 27th, 2014 — 1:54pm PDT

    6/10

  51. Michelle W Monday, October 27th, 2014 — 11:32pm PDT

    6/10

  52. Dom Tuesday, October 28th, 2014 — 9:34am PDT

    6/10

  53. marina Tuesday, October 28th, 2014 — 11:14am PDT

    7/10! Cool quiz!

  54. Christopher Co Tuesday, October 28th, 2014 — 11:23am PDT

    I only got 6/10, but at least I learned something today!

  55. Jeff S Tuesday, October 28th, 2014 — 12:07pm PDT

    9/10!

  56. tania Tuesday, October 28th, 2014 — 1:54pm PDT

    7/10

  57. rino Tuesday, October 28th, 2014 — 1:55pm PDT

    6/10

  58. erika Tuesday, October 28th, 2014 — 5:27pm PDT

    8/10

  59. Stotes Tuesday, October 28th, 2014 — 6:00pm PDT

    6/10

  60. Mag Tuesday, October 28th, 2014 — 6:38pm PDT

    10/10..Lucky

  61. Cindy Smith Tuesday, October 28th, 2014 — 6:42pm PDT

    7/10

  62. Bonnie Tuesday, October 28th, 2014 — 7:50pm PDT

    My score was 7/10.

  63. Lorena Grande Tuesday, October 28th, 2014 — 8:37pm PDT

    My score was 8/10. Thanks!:)

  64. Erin W Tuesday, October 28th, 2014 — 9:21pm PDT

    6/10 lol!

  65. Sunshine G Wednesday, October 29th, 2014 — 6:19am PDT

    8/10 – not bad!

  66. AmberP Wednesday, October 29th, 2014 — 9:06am PDT

    I clicked too fast, I didn’t see my score. But I did learn something today! Yay!

  67. Cassidy Wednesday, October 29th, 2014 — 9:11am PDT

    Goooooo Green Bins! I hope I win : )

  68. Ella Wednesday, October 29th, 2014 — 2:13pm PDT

    It appears I’m not green enough yet. 5/10.

  69. wen Thursday, October 30th, 2014 — 12:33pm PDT

    6/10

  70. Peter K Thursday, October 30th, 2014 — 3:07pm PDT

    I need to study up 6/10 🙁

  71. Donald Thursday, October 30th, 2014 — 8:58pm PDT

    All true! 6/10

  72. Shelley Friday, October 31st, 2014 — 9:52am PDT

    10/10

  73. elvi Saturday, November 1st, 2014 — 1:07pm PDT

    Yikes! 5/10!

  74. Jen R Sunday, November 2nd, 2014 — 7:59am PST

    8/10

  75. tracy Sunday, November 2nd, 2014 — 8:57pm PST

    8/10 for me!

  76. Milena Monday, November 3rd, 2014 — 2:29pm PST

    6/10!

  77. DB Tuesday, November 4th, 2014 — 9:17am PST

    8/10!

  78. Jen Tuesday, November 4th, 2014 — 11:35am PST

    8/10

  79. Rebecca Tuesday, November 4th, 2014 — 1:07pm PST

    6/10, but at least I passed and learned new info

  80. Michelle W Tuesday, November 4th, 2014 — 9:46pm PST

    7/10!

  81. alana Tuesday, November 4th, 2014 — 9:50pm PST

    7/10

  82. Dilara Tuesday, November 4th, 2014 — 11:35pm PST

    I got 7 out of 10.

  83. Samantha Yang Wednesday, November 5th, 2014 — 12:13am PST

    4/10! That’s embarrassing! Will need to do more of my research. lol!!!

  84. Lindsay Wednesday, November 5th, 2014 — 8:42am PST

    6/10, not good, not bad, but learnt a lot!

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