FAQs

Why pre-treat organics?: Pre-treatment is an alternative method to a conventional curbside compost program. Pre-treatment works by mashing and dehydrating household food waste and produces a sterile and odour-free soil amendment that is ~90% less in weight and volume. Pre-treatment doesn’t attract pests, is easy to store, and requires fewer collection days than other curbside compost programs.

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Organic Waste Diversion FAQs

1. When will the program begin?: The program is expected to begin its first phase of rollouts in mid-2022. The program will be implemented in phases to ensure smooth uptake in the community and will take 1-2 years to engage the whole community.

2. Who is eligible?: All residents living within Nelson's city limits will be eligible to participate in the organics diversion program however rollout will take place in phases.

3. What is a pre-treatment appliance? What does it do?: A pre-treatment appliance is an in-home clean technology that transforms food waste into a natural soil amendment. About the size of a bread maker, pre-treatment appliances pulverize and dehydrate food scraps breaking them down in a matter of hours. The weight and volume of food scraps are reduced by ~90%, leaving users with sterile biomass that is easy to store and can be used in backyard gardening or collected by the City.

4. Why pre-treat organics?: Pre-treatment is an alternative method to a conventional curbside compost program. Pre-treatment works by mashing and dehydrating household food waste and produces a sterile and odour-free soil amendment that is ~90% less in weight and volume. Pre-treatment doesn’t attract pests, is easy to store, and requires fewer collection days than other curbside compost programs.

5. Will organics be included in our curbside pickup?: Organics will be collected up to 8 times a year, once the program is fully operational.