Metro Vancouver reminds residents and businesses to use their green bins and home composters to recycle as much of the excess food waste as possible due to power outages during last weekend’s storm.
Just as Metro Vancouver residents recycle food every day, using green bins and home composters to recycle spoiled food is the best way to handle this unexpected waste. There is no limit to the amount of green waste and recycling a Metro Vancouver home can put out.
“We understand that many Metro Vancouver residents had the unpleasant experience of having large quantities of food in their fridges and freezers spoil because of last weekend’s storm,” said Director Malcolm Brodie, chair of Metro Vancouver’s Zero Waste Committee. “Rather than throwing spoiled food in the garbage, we remind residents to recycle it as most do on a daily basis. Freezing this excess amount until your regular collection day will be especially helpful for multi-family housing complexes.”
All unpackaged food can go into green bins, and residential food waste under 10 litres can also be taken to any of Metro Vancouver’s seven transfer stations except in Matsqui. Spoiled food can be re-frozen, which makes it easier to remove the packaging in order to recycle it.
Freezing spoiled food until the regular collection day will prevent green bins from overflowing or overloading at transfer stations. Placing layers of yard waste between food waste in green bins is another way to minimize odours until collection day. Residents may also use home composters for items other than meats, bones, dairy and grains.
Late summer and fall are great times to start composting at home as many municipalities sell discounted composters to recycle yard trimmings, fruits, and vegetables.
Businesses dealing with spoiled food because of power outages should speak with their haulers to determine how best to deal with excess amounts.
Metro Vancouver’s Love Food, Hate Waste program provides tips and information on a wide range of issues including how not to waste food by buying too much, how best to store and freeze food, portion planning, menu ideas, and recipes.
Additionally, information on preparing for emergencies that could involve prolonged power outages is available on the Metro Vancouver website metrovan.org.