Our Compost Guide provides detailed instructions on what goes in and what stays out of our compost collection bins. By processing organic waste at an industrial scale composting site, we are able to accept a much wider range of materials than the typical backyard compost.
SORTING GUIDE
ALL FOOD WASTE AND FOOD SCRAPS
FOOD-SOILED PAPER AND CARDBOARD, COFFEE FILTERS, NAPKINS, TEA BAGS,
SHELLS, BONES, FISH, AND MEAT
LEAVES, CUT PLANTS, BIRD FEED, WOOD, ASH, AND CHARCOAL
COMPOSTABLE PACKAGING, DISHWARE, AND BAGS
IS IT COMPOSTABLE?
Look for the BPI certified logo on the packaging or product! This logo guarantees the item is compostable.

DID YOU KNOW?
When organic material decomposes in our landfill, it produces methane; a very powerful greenhouse gas. In fact, methane is over 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere!
Organic separation is the answer! Use your compost bin every day to capture all your organic waste. We’ll take it and make compost, returning nutrients to the soil.




ACCEPTABLE ITEMS
- All food scraps, raw and cooked (fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy)
- Baked goods
- Beeswax wraps
- Bird feed (Seed bells, suet cakes, etc.)
- Bones
- BPI certified compostable bags
- Breads, grains and dough
- Butcher paper
- Cardboard rolls from paper towel and toilet paper
- Cat and dog food
- Cellophane
- Chopsticks
- Coffee grounds and filters
- Compostable disposables (cups, plates, bowls, clamshells, cutlery)
- Compostable plastic (PLA #7)
- Cotton balls and cotton swabs with cardboard stems
- Cough candy wrappers (e.g. Ricola, Halls)
- Dairy products
- Eggshells
- Fibre-based egg cartons (not styrofoam)
- Fish
- Hair and fur
- J cloths
- Matches (used)
- Nail clippings
- Napkins
- Natural fibre fabric (cotton, hemp, bamboo, flax, etc.)
- Nutshells
- Packaging labeled as “oxo-biodegradable”
- Paper
- Paper towels
- Pencil shavings
- Pizza boxes and soiled cardboard (must be broken down to fit in your bin)
- Plants and flowers
- Tea and tea bags
- Used tissues/Kleenex
- Tissue Paper
- Waxed and parchment paper
- Wood ash and charcoal
- Wooden stir sticks
UNACCEPTABLE ITEMS
- Animal waste, litter
- Candles
- Crayons
- Diapers and baby wipes
- Disposable coffee cups (e.g. Tim Hortons, Starbucks)
- Foil
- Glass
- Liquids (juice, pop, oil, coffee, milk, etc.)
- Menstrual products
- Metal
- Milk and ice cream cartons
- Paint
- Paraffin wax
- Plastic
- Plastic bags
- Plastic wrap
- Recyclables
- Styrofoam
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QUESTIONS?
We’re here to help!
MONDAY – FRIDAY, 8:30 A.M. – 4 P.M. CST
BY PHONE:
204-232-0025
BY EMAIL
INFO@COMPOSTWINNIPEG.CA