Food scraps, yard trimmings, and garden waste make up over one-third of all waste generated in the RDNO — and when these materials end up in the landfill, they don’t break down properly. Instead, they produce methane, a greenhouse gas much more potent than carbon dioxide. That’s why composting and proper organics management are essential to reducing our environmental impact.
As part of the Too Good to Waste initiative, we’re encouraging residents to rethink how they handle organic waste. By composting at home or using community programs, you can help divert valuable materials from the landfill, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and return nutrients to the soil — all while saving money and reducing clutter.
Explore this page to learn how you can get started with composting, understand the benefits of organics diversion, and take pride in protecting the place we call home. Because here in the North Okanagan, even our scraps are Too Good to Waste.
The RDNO provides a free drop-off for Yard & Garden Waste at all Solid Waste Management Facilities except at Silver Star and Cherryville Transfer Stations. Please note that we do not accept food scraps for composting at our facilities nor provide curbside organics collection. Some municipalities within the RDNO are operating organics collection programs for their residents including:
If your area does not have a municipal organics collection program, one option is a compost collection service. Find your options by searching your local listings for "composting services". Another option is composting at home, and you can find a variety of composting options, a composter rebate, and tips to avoid pests on the Home Composting & Yard Care Webpage.