Everyday we produce a pile of fruit and vegetable peelings, cores, egg shells and tea bags that should not end up in the trash. Better meal planning and composting of our food waste makes ecological sense.
Reduce | Reuse | Recycle | Facilities
How do I go green?
Reduce
Make local, in season, organic food choices and purchase items with minimal packaging - or grow your own. Many peels that we discard such as potato, orange, lemon and apple peels are edible, full of vitamins, and add extra flavour to dishes. Better meal planning results in fewer wasted ingredients and will save money and time.
Reuse
Eat those leftovers! Leftovers don't have to be boring – last night's boiled potatoes are this morning's hash browns; make a new sauce for those leftover noodles; or pudding out of that rice.
Recycle
By composting organic food waste, you entice beneficial insects and birds and can cut down on pesticide and inorganic fertilizer use. There are many at-home composting options, and kits can be purchased and maintained at low cost. Not equipped to compost your own organic food waste? There are companies that will collect your food waste listed below.
Facilities
Community Composting
PO Box 49018, Victoria, BC V8P 5V8
250-884-7645
ICC Group
981 Maughan Road
Nanaimo
250-722-4614
OrganiCo Waste Recovery Solutions Ltd.
Victoria
250-516-1329
Pedal To Petal
Victoria
250-383-5144
Planet Zero
Salt Spring Island
Salt Spring Island
250-537-1715
reFUSE (Commercial and Residential)
2111 Government Street
Victoria
250-381-6007
The Environmental Story
Non-organic foods may be treated with pesticides that can harm soils and contaminate waterways, not to mention the long term effects this can have on your health. In the Capital Region we are lucky to be so close to rich agricultural areas such as the Saanich Peninsula and the Cowichan Valley. Many of these farmers practice organic farming and the best of this produce is available to us in local stores, farmer's markets and on the table in local restaurants. Using local options supports community farmers, keeps agricultural areas active, and cuts down on the use of fossil fuels in the storage and transport of food across long distances.
In Canada, food that claims to be organic should be certified to the 'Canada Organic' standard. Look for their symbol when shopping.
Canada Organic Link - Canada Food Inspection Area
Did You Know?
Save the Date!
This year, Hartland Happening is on Sunday June 24th.
10:30 am to 3:00 pm
Click here for more details
Questions? Call the CRD Hotline.
We can answer your questions on the Hartland landfill, composting, household hazardous waste, recycling and more!
t: 250.360.3030
toll-free: 1.800.663.4425 #3030
Go blue. It's the right thing to do.
Use CRD Blue Boxes & Bags at the curb.
Household Hazardous Waste
Our natural environment is no place for household hazardous waste. Ensure that pesticides, varnishes, paints, chemicals and batteries are safely disposed of and kept out of our landfill.