Pre-treated Organics Program

Welcome to the Pre-treated Organics Program, proudly launched by the City of Nelson. This innovative program marks the beginning of Canada's first residential pre-treated organics initiative. We're excited to provide you with an opportunity to make a positive impact in our community while transforming your food waste.

What is the Pre-treated Organics Program?

Our residential organics diversion program has officially launched! Participating residents now have access to an in-home appliance specifically designed for mashing and dehydrating food waste. This process, known as 'pre-treatment,' significantly reduces the weight and volume of food waste. Similar to composting, your food waste is transformed into a valuable soil amendment, which can enrich your garden. Pre-treating food waste in a FoodCycler creates a dry, nearly odourless material that you can either use in your home garden, or drop off to be collected by the City. In addition to regular collection services, we offer a comprehensive range of educational materials to guide you in effectively using the pre-treatment appliances

For more comprehensive program details, we encourage you to review the Program FAQs, where you can find answers to common questions.

Pilot Neighbourhood: Fairview

Fairview has been selected as the pilot neighbourhood for the research component of our program. If you reside in Fairview (Friday Waste collection route), we invite you to participate in the program and contribute valuable insights. To identify if you are part of the pilot neighbourhood, please refer to the map provided [here].

How to Participate:

Register Online: Arrange a pickup or drop-off at your home by registering online. If you are a Fairview resident, sign up here.

Open Drop-in Hours: Come to our Open Drop-in Hours located at the Nelson Curling Club. Please note that these Drop-in Hours are available until December 13th and may resume in January as posted.

Early Adopters:

The Early Adopters phase of the project has wrapped up, and we appreciate the City residents who eagerly signed up in advance of the community rollout. Please be aware that the Early Adopters List is now full. Eligible City residents on the Waitlist (from outside of the pilot neighbourhood of Fairview) will be contacted in early 2024 to pick up all remaining units. Please sign up for our waitlist by clicking here. 

Program Phases

We are currently reaching out exclusively to residents within the pilot neighbourhood. As we transition from the Early Adopters phase to the Pilot Neighbourhood phase, we sincerely ask residents on the Waitlist for their continued support and patience. Please rest assured that we are committed to ensuring a smooth and successful implementation.

Thank you for your interest and support in making Nelson a leader in waste management. Together, we can create a more sustainable future for our city and the environment.

If you have any questions or require further information, please feel free to reach out to us. We're here to assist you every step of the way.

Food Waste Reduction:

With the rising cost of food, a great way to save money on your grocery bills is to reduce food waste at home. About 1/3 of all food produced is lost or wasted every year, but small changes in how you shop, cook, and use food at home will have a lasting impact on your wallet.

Did you know that food waste is also one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions in BC? Reducing food waste is one of the simplest things we can do to decrease our impact on the environment.  When food waste ends up in the landfill, it creates methane – a greenhouse gas 20 times more powerful than carbon dioxide!

Aligned with our Nelson Next Climate Plan, The City of Nelson is developing its organics program to help residents manage their household food waste. While some food waste is unavoidable, preventing food waste in the first place is the best solution. 

Regional Program

In partnership with the RDCK, Nelson City Council is committed to diverting organics from the waste stream. The RDCK completed an organic diversion strategy for the region and has received funding to develop a central compost site. 

Residents outside the City of Nelson, visit rdck.ca/organics for program details in your region.

Initial Pilot Program

For more information on our initial pilot project that lead to the decision to adopt a pre-treatment organics program, click here.