City Services»Garbage & Recycling»Recycling Programs»Green Can

Green Can

Recycle food scraps and yard trimmings in your Green Can!

If you currently receive the City of Coquitlam's curbside garbage and recycling collection service, use your Green Can to turn both food scraps and yard trimmings into compost. It all goes into one can!

Our trucks take the contents of your Green Can to a regional composting facility where it’s turned into high-quality compost for landscapers and farmers.

The benefits of using a Green Can:

Your garbage bin will shrink. Did you know on average a third of your garbage bin is made up of food waste? Not anymore! Put food waste in your Green Can and see how much less your garbage bin weighs!
Food is turned into compost. Prevent food waste & yard trimmings wasting away in the landfill by turning them into a resource we can use instead.
Save money. It’s cheaper to compost food than to send it to the landfill!
We can reach our target! Using your Green Can will help the City reach the region’s waste diversion goal of 70% by 2015.

Download our Green Can brochure for more information.

Using your Green Can is as easy as A,B,C!

A. Collect your food scraps and food-soiled paper in a kitchen container.

B. Empty the container into your Green Can, along with any yard trimmings (residents provide their own can). Make sure there is a Green Can sticker attached to your can.

C. Place your Green Can at the curb/lane weekly, with the Green Can sticker facing out, between 5:30 a.m. - 7:30 a.m. on your designated collection day.

Helpful Tips to Remember

Plastic is bad! No plastic or compostable/biodegradable plastic bags are allowed in your Green Can.
Get the right size! Green Cans must be between 45 - 121 litres in size and weigh less than 20kg when full.
Stinky bin? Freeze really smelly food and wrap food scraps in newspaper or a kraft bag.
We collect your Green Can first because we want to get food scraps off the curb fast. Your garbage can gets collected second, so make sure your food scraps are in your Green Can, not your garbage can!

What can I put in my Green Can?

YES

Food Scraps

Meat, poultry, fish, shellfish and bones
Egg and dairy products
Table and plate scraps
Vegetables, salad and fruit
Bread, dough, pasta, grains
Coffee grounds

Soiled paper

Paper towels, napkins and plates
Soiled pizza delivery boxes
Coffee filters and tea bags

Yard trimmings

Grass clippings, leaves, weeds, brush and branches
Plants and flowers
Plant, tree or hedge prunings less than 7.5cm (3”) in diameter and no more than 1m (3’) in length

NO

Coffee cups, paper cartons or take-out containers
Plastics (including biodegradable or compostable plastic bags)
Glass, latex or metals (including foil)
Cork or Styrofoam
Wire, twist ties, rubber bands or netting
Grease, oil or liquids
Animal waste or carcasses
Soil, sod and rocks
Dirty diapers and other personal hygiene items

Bears and your Green Can

Food scraps make up the majority of what attracts bears to our waste! Help reduce bear-human interactions by following these 4 simple steps:

If you have a bear resistant bin, use this as your Green Can! These bins are heavy so your collectors will need to pick out your food scraps and yard trimmings by hand. Help them out by bundling your food scraps in newspaper or paper bags (no more than 4 bundles). Gather your yard trimmings into small bundles (tie with twine or string) or put them in a paper bag before placing them in your Green Can.
Always store food scraps in a secure enclosure or bear resistant bin.
Never set out food scraps on the curbside in Kraft-type paper bags or plastic bags; it should always go into your secure Green Can.
Avoid a smelly bin by using a rigid container with a secure lid, freezing odorous items until the morning of pickup and rinsing food-contaminated items, such as meat trays, before placing them in your Green Can.

Remember, always put out your Green Can ONLY ON THE MORNING OF PICKUP between 5:30 a.m. - 7:30 a.m.

Visit www.bearaware.bc.ca for more tips. For information on purchasing the bear resistant bins the City has for sale, contact 604-927-3500.

Green Can Questions?

Who can use the Green Can service?

This service is only for residents receiving the City of Coquitlam’s curbside collection service. Businesses or multi-unit residences such as apartments, condominiums, or townhouses aren’t eligible for this service at present.

How should yard trimmings be packaged for Green Can collection?

Branches should be tied in bundles measuring under 1 metre in length and 1/2 metre in diameter. Extra yard trimmings can be placed in kraft-type paper yard trimming bags (available at most houseware and grocery stores).

Where can I get my Green Can sticker?

Email us at wastereduction@coquitlam.ca or call 604-927-3500 and we’ll send you one! You can also pick one up for free at these facilities: City Hall, City Centre Aquatic Complex, Chimo Pool, Coquitlam Animal Shelter, Pinetree Community Centre and Poirier Library.

Do I put my garbage and blue box out with my Green Can?

Continue to put out your garbage and blue box as normal next to your Green Can. Your Green Can will be collected first, prior to your garbage pick up.

Where can I get a kitchen container?

Containers may be purchased from local hardware stores or homemade from large plastic containers such as ice cream buckets.

Should I line my Green Can?

It’s up to you! But remember if you want to line your can, make sure you do it with paper! (like old newspapers, paper bags or paper towels). Definitely don’t use plastic! (even if its biodegradable or compostable plastic).

Why can’t I use compostable or biodegradable plastic bags to line my kitchen container and bin?

These plastic bags aren’t able to compost or biodegrade in the composting facility. So remember – no plastic in your Green Can!

Help me! I have a smelly kitchen container!

Don’t worry we’re here to help! You can:

Wrap your food scraps in newspaper or place them in a paper bag.
For really smelly food like meat or fish, wrap them then freeze them until collection day.
Empty your kitchen container frequently and set out your Green Can at the curb weekly.

What if I have too much for my can?

Put all your excess food scraps in your can. Place excess yard trimmings in additional labelled cans or paper bags (call 604-927-3500 for extra stickers).

What if I don’t have yard trimmings to put in the can?

That’s fine. Just wrap your food scraps in newspaper or place in a paper bag and add to your can.

Should I continue with backyard composting?

Yes, this is still the most cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to dispose of food scraps. Use your Green Can for food that cannot go into the backyard composter, such as meat, bones, fish, dairy and bread.

How can I keep my Green Can clean and avoid odours, insects and animals?

Keep your can in a shady area and keep the lid closed at all times. Sprinkle baking soda in your can and line the bottom with newspaper. Allow grass yard trimmings to dry before placing in them in the can and, if possible, use alternate layers of food scraps with dry yard trimmings waste.