Annual waste studies conducted from 2002 to 2007 showed that nearly 60% of Abbotsford's residential waste is "compostable". Compostable waste includes kitchen scraps and contaminated paper products. Yard waste, while compostable, is not included in this figure, since it’s not collected with curbside garbage. At home composting can significantly reduce the amount of garbage generated.
Kitchen Compost Pails
Uncooked food wastes can be stored in a kitchen compost pail, until you are ready to add them to your backyard composter, apartment composter, or private collection service. Kitchen compost pails are available at the Abbotsford Mission Recycling Depot. The kitchen compost pails have a 7.5-L (2 gal) capacity, are easy to clean, and can be mounted on the side of a cabinet door, and have a snap-shut lid. Please call the Recycling Depot for price and availability.
Composting in an Apartment
If you live in an apartment, backyard composting is not for you. However, a worm composter can be set up on a sheltered balcony or even indoors to take care of your uncooked food waste, tea bags and coffee grounds. Best suited for the job are "red wigglers," an inoffensive-looking type of redworm. Compost bins can be home-made or bought from a supplier. Finished compost can be utilized as fertilizer or soil conditioner in flower and plant pots. Worm composters can be purchased at locations in Abbotsford. Suppliers of worm composters must usually be contacted ahead of time so the worms can be collected and ready for pickup.
Backyard Composters
Backyard composters are best utilized for fruit and vegetable wastes, leaves, grass clippings, tea bags, coffee grounds (with filters) and smaller twigs and branches. Materials, such as meats, bones and dairy products, should not be included to avoid attracting rodents. Backyard composters do require some maintenance (approximately 10 minutes a week), because the material needs to be mixed, and water may need to be added. Finished compost can be used in the yard as a soil conditioner, slow-release fertilizer or mulch, and can help to reduce watering and fertilizing needs. Backyard composters are available at the Abbotsford Mission Recycling Depot. These composters have a 300-L (80 gal) capacity, and come with an instruction booklet. Please call the Recycling Depot for price and availability.
Please see our Guide to Backyard Composting.