Materials Accepted for Composting

Yard and garden feedstock for the composting program is accepted from business sources, such as commercial landscapers, and from residential sources.

Clean, source-separated yard and garden waste is received at no charge. Yard and garden waste is defined as leaves, grass and hedge clippings, grass sod, plants, flowers, shrub and tree branches up to 75 mm (3 inches) in diameter.  Processed yard & garden waste includes tree pruning waste which has been chipped to less than 50 mm in any dimension.

Some Materials Are Not Accepted:

• Fruits and berries are not accepted as they attract wildlife to the composting facility and landfill, which contravenes the landfill's Operating Certificate (issued by the Ministry of Environment authorizing operation of the Foothills Boulevard Regional Landfill).

• Branches and other woody debris over 75 mm (3 inch) in diameter and stumps present operational problems.  Large branches and stumps have a high carbon to nitrogen ratio which affects the composting process.  The bulky nature of these materials also significantly increases handling and processing costs.

• Non-organic material such as dirt, rocks, asphalt, concrete and metals can severely damage the processing equipment and create safety concerns and contaminates can affect the quality of finished compost making it difficult to use.

• Composting site capacity and processing ability does not allow us to handle land clearing debris or industrial sources of wood waste through the composting operation.

Loads contaminated with unacceptable materials will be charged the appropriate tipping fees as these materials must be landfilled.

If you have any questions about whether your material qualifies as Yard and Garden Waste, please contact the Foothills Landfill 250-962-8972

NorGrow is the bulk compost available at the Foothills Boulevard Regional Landfill. NorGrow is produced in accordance with the Provincial Organic Matter Recycling Regulation. This compost is classified as Class A compost as it meets the following criteria: the organic material is built into windrows which are periodically aerated and mixed for a period of 35 days. The windrows must maintain a temperature of 55° Celsius or greater for at least 15 days. After the final aeration and mixing, the compost is held in curing piles for a minimum of 21 days. Once the compost has finished curing, samples are taken, sent to an accredited laboratory and tested for pH, 11 metals, foreign matter and a number of other parameters. For more information on composting regulations, please visit: http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/ID/freeside/18_2002

NorGrow bulk compost is produced from local yard and garden waste which is generated by both residential and commercial customers. Yard and garden waste is made up of grass clippings, leaves, shrubs, and branches. There are no biosolids (residuals from the municipal wastewater treatment plant) in NorGrow.

NorGrow is for Sale – while supplies last at the Foothills Boulevard Regional Landfill

Backyard Composting

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