Domestic composting

Domestic composting of certain food waste and brown, dry waste remains the best option. The City encourages those who already do their own composting to keep up their excellent habits and also encourages them to:

• Use the brown bin to dispose of matter that should be avoided in household composting bins.

Those who wish to do their own composting at home can take advantage of:

• Financial assistance provided by the City to purchase or build a home compost bin.

Matter/materials accepted in your domestic compost bin

Wet or green matter

• Fruits and vegetables: raw, cooked or rotten, including peels
• Garden waste
• Cut grass (grass-cycling remains a better option)
• Algae
• Egg shells
• Plants or bouquets (including soil)
  

Dry or brown matter

• Dead leaves, straw, hay
• Shredded branches
• Sawdust
• Peanut shells
• Coffee, tea, herbal tea (with filters or pouches, no metal staples)
• Pasta, bread, rice (no sauce or oil)
• Napkins
• Newspaper (avoid coloured ink)
  

Avoid

• Meat, fish, oil, dairy products
• Bones, hair, fur (take too long to compost)
• Diseased plants, seeds from weeds or invasive plants
• Animal and human excrement
• Poison ivy
• Ashes
• All matter contaminated with dangerous products or pesticides

Financial assistance

• The City provides financial assistance to purchase or build a domestic compost bin. Visit the financial assistance section.