During the demonstration phase, the City conducted three studies in summer 2019, fall 2019 and winter 2020 on the composition of waste set out for collection. We found that there is still room to improve waste sorting at home. More than 30% of the materials collected in garbage carts from the demonstration area were compostable organics and more than 20% were recyclables.
The City will be offering more opportunities for public education beginning this spring to help residents become accustomed to sorting materials, and we encourage any demonstration area residents to sign up. Once you become accustomed to sorting your recyclables, food scraps and yard waste, you should find you have much less leftover garbage.
Residents will also be able to drop off up to two bags of excess garbage (in clear bags only without food scraps, yard waste or recycling) at Eco Stations for free.
Demonstration phase residents with 7 or more people in the same household, and residents generating non-hazardous home healthcare waste can apply for upgrading your garbage cart into an excess (360L) garbage cart from April 6, 2021. As of October 2021, the monthly rate for the excess garbage cart will be $58.32, which is $10 more per month than the large (240L) garbage cart.