Green Cart Program

FREE COMPOST (2021 Apr-Oct!)

Strathmore’s Curbside Organics Collection

The Town of Strathmore is introducing a Green Cart Program to collect food scraps, pet waste, and yard clippings. This material will be composted, and turned into a nutrient-rich soil amendment. Green cart collection follows your current black cart collection schedule.  If your black cart is usually picked up on Monday - your green cart will be picked up on Monday too!

• Click here to view the green cart collection calendar
• Click here to view a list of acceptable materials for your green cart
• Click here to read the Waste Management Compost Brochure

Environment Canada has identified organic waste material as making up about 40% of residential waste. The more waste we put in our landfills, the more we contribute to the release of greenhouse gasses and pollution that can leak into ecosystems - harming plants and animals. 

You can help reduce the amount of waste that is sent to our landfills by compositing. Organic materials such as kitchen scraps, and back yard debris contain essential plant nutrients that can be easily recycled through composting for use as fertilizer and soil amendment – keeping reusable material out of our landfills.

Composting is done by keeping organic material out of your everyday garbage - piling up organic waste, and then maintaining that pile while micro and macro organisms break down what is inside. The Organic material can be utilized as a soil amendment for agriculture, landscaping and horticultural applications as compost improves soils compositions when used.

Please remember:

• Place your green cart at the curb, not on the sidewalk or in the middle of the alley
• Leave 1m space around each cart (black and green are picked up on the same day)
• Do not leave your green cart or black cart at the curb after your collection day.

Here's an idea of what can go into your green cart:

Learn more on what you can put in your green cart?

View our Green Carts How to Video

View our Green Cart FAQ Document

Please keep these items out of your green cart:

• No plastic, oxo-biodegradable or biodegradable bags. If using a bag, only use certified compostable bags.
• No diapers, wipes or sanitary products
• No food or beverage packaging
• No plastic plates or cutlery
• No painted or treated wood
• No fruit or vegetable stickers
• No dryer lint or vacuum dirt
• No wax paper or butcher's paper

Please note that only food-soiled cardboard may be placed in your green cart

Tips for using your green cart in the winter:

• Store your green cart in a sheltered area to ensure the lid opens when the cart is tipped into the collection truck. Placing the cart in a sunny location can also help.
• Ensure snow is cleared onto your lawn or boulevard (not the street) and that the cart is not blocking snowplows or other vehicles.
• When there is snow on the ground it may be easier to pull your cart rather than try and push it.
• To avoid contents freezing to your green cart, wrap food with high moisture content in soiled boxes or newspaper. Lining your cart will act as a barrier. Use an acceptable green cart liner such as newspaper, paper bags, soiled pizza boxes or compostable bags. Layering wet organics such as food waste or leaves with dry organics such as newspaper or pizza boxes will also help when temperatures fluctuate frequently. Try adding crumpled newspaper to the bottom of your cart.
• Don’t force the cart contents down.
• Strain excess liquid from soups and sauces with a strainer and only place the solid pieces in the cart. 

Questions or Concerns....