The City of Côte Saint-Luc launched a program in October 2008 to collect organic waste door-to-door from single-family homes and duplexes. This program will make Côte Saint-Luc a leader on the island of Montreal for the treatment of residual waste and will help create a better environment for future generations. We are counting on the participation of your family to make this program a success.

Residents of single-family homes and duplexes received a brown bin in September 2008, which you can use to dispose of organic waste—like leftover dinner, soiled pizza boxes, grass clippings and more.

This page explains what you received, what goes inside in the brown bin, how this affects garbage collection.

Watch the instructional video below:

Frequently Asked Questions

What is organic waste?

In the simplest terms, organic waste is household food waste and garden waste. Until now, we referred to that kind of thing as garbage. But like paper, plastic, glass and aluminum, we can recycle organic waste. Your orange peels, uneaten barbecue chicken, and leaf and grass waste will be sent to a processing plant where it will be transformed into valuable, nutrient-rich compost for gardens.

Why did the city implement this program?

The organic waste-collection program will allow Côte Saint-Luc to significantly reduce the amount of garbage buried in landfill and will help us meet our goal of 60 percent waste diversion. The process of composting also transforms organic residues into a rich fertilizer, which can then be used for gardening and landscaping projects.

Is the organic waste collection program costing the city more money?

No. We have replaced one garbage collection day with one brown bin collection, so our labour costs are the same. The cost of the brown bin and related materials was partially subsidized by a Quebec government program (Programme sur la redistribution aux municipalités des redevances pour l'élimination de matières résiduelles).

How do I participate?

Every single-family home and duplex received a small collection bin for the kitchen, a brown bin for pickup and a sample of compostable bags. Your brown bin must be placed at the curb by 8am on collection day.

Do I have to sort my garbage?

Yes. You will want to keep two bins in your kitchen—one for organic waste (like vegetable peels, leftover foods and soiled napkins) and another for garbage (like Styrofoam cups and certain types of non-recyclable plastics). The city will provide a small kitchen collector that you can use for your organic waste, which you can keep under your sink, or on your counter.

Where should I store my brown bin?

You can store the brown bin in your garage, backyard or side-yard.

Is the brown bin size right for my home?

In most cases, yes. Your new brown bin will look like the one on the front of this flyer and will probably fit in the same space currently used by your garbage bin. Since you won’t have as much real garbage to throw away, you might consider getting rid of your garbage bin altogether and replacing it with a smaller container.

The standard brown bins are the right size for most homes as it holds a week’s worth of food and yard waste for a typical family. Also, the standard brown bins are compatible with the mechanical arm that lifts the brown bins and dumps the contents into our waste collection truck.

The city chose this size of brown bin because of the large amount of garden waste houses produce during the spring and fall. During those seasons, your brown bin will be quite full. Also this size works best with the mechanical arm of our city trucks.

Will organic waste collection affect the garbage collection schedule?

Yes. The city will collect garbage once a week (instead of twice a week), household food and garden waste once a week and recycling once a week.

Why will garbage only be collected once a week?

Up to 85 percent of your household’s waste can be recovered and transformed into useful products. Once you sort your organics and recycling from your true garbage, you will not need more than one garbage collection day per week.

Can I put my yard waste in the brown bin?

Yes, you can place yard waste, such as grass clippings and weeds, directly in your brown bin or in paper or compostable bags beside the brown bin.

Click to view the list (PDF)

Do I have to use a bag to line the brown bin container?

Yes, for health and safety reasons, you must enclose your organic material in newspaper, paper bags or compostable bags within the brown bin. Please refer to the article “How do I set out my brown bin for collection” in this guide for detailed information.

I have a gardener. Should he put yard waste in my brown bin?

Yes, your gardener should put yard waste in your brown bin. The city will be inviting gardeners to a meeting to explain what to put in the brown bin. However, we encourage you to speak with your gardener to ensure he uses your brown bin correctly.

How should I place my brown bin at the curb?

Please place your bin near the curb with the wheels facing your home.

How do I prevent leaks and odours? 

To absorb potential spills and leaks, line the bottom of your compostable bags with newspaper, paper plates or brown paper bags. This will create a firm and absorbent bottom to your compostable bag.

Whenever you have some food stuff that is particularly wet or smelly, wrap it in newspaper (before putting it in the compostable bag) like your grandma used to do when she brought home fresh fish.

Option #1: Line your kitchen collector with used newspaper, a paper bag or a compostable bag and fill with organics. Wrap the newspaper into a secure bundle, or tie the bag closed, and transfer to your brown bin. Place your brown bin at the curb on collection day.

Option #2: Line your brown bin with a larger paper bag or compostable bag. Fill your kitchen collector directly with organics. Transfer the loose organic material into your lined brown bin. Tie your brown bin bag closed. Place your brown bin at the curb on collection day.

*For health and safety reasons, you must enclose your food waste in newspaper, paper bags or compostable bags within the brown bin.

*To absorb potential spills and odours we recommend that you line the bottom of your kitchen collector and brown bin with newspaper.

Is food packaging compostable?

You can put into the brown bin food packaging made from paper or cardboard (eg, pizza boxes). But please do not put plastic, Styrofoam or ice cream containers with a wax coating.

Can I put the brown bin at the curb the night before?

You can put your brown bin at the curb the night before as long as the lid is firmly closed. This will be allowed only for waste in bins with lids that are firmly closed, not for garbage in plastic bags or recyclables in open blue boxes. Put your brown bins near the curb by 8am. The city is still testing the most efficient collection route, so the collection times may change from week to week.

Why shouldn’t I use my garburator?

Food from garburators ends up in landfills and can clog sewers. It is not an environmentally friendly way of disposing of organic waste.

Where can I buy compostable bags?

Compostable bags are available for purchase at:

• IGA, Pharmaprix, and Dollorama (Cavendish Mall)
• IGA Jean-Coutu, and Dollorama (Côte Saint-Luc Shopping Centre)
• Wal-Mart (Décarie / Jean-Talon)
• Réno-Dépôt (St. Jacques St.)
• City Hall (5801 Cavendish Blvd.)
• Public Works Department (7001 Mackle Rd.)

Where can I purchase extra materials for the collection?

Extra brown bins, kitchen collectors and blue boxes can be purchased at the Côte Saint-Luc Public Works Department (7001 Mackle Road; open weekdays 8am to 4pm).

Where are they taking our organic waste?

The organic waste is transported to a composting plant in Montreal East, run by the company EBI.

Compostable liner bags

Residents should only use 100 percent compostable bags made from natural materials such as cornstarch. These bags do not need to be removed before processing and therefore become part of the finished compost. Plastic liner bags (including oxo-biodegradable plastic) are NOT accepted for organic waste composting in Côte Saint-Luc. Please use bags with one of the following symbols:

The following is a partial list of bags available in Canada that have one of the two symbols.

Dog Waste Bags

What items are accepted in the brown bin?

From your kitchen
All fresh, frozen, dried, cooked and prepared foods and table scraps, including:

• Fruits and vegetables (whole, skins, hearts, corn cobs, etc.)
• Pasta, breads and grains
• Meat and fish (including bones, skin, fat and entrails)
• Milk products (milk, cheese, butter, etc.)
• Egg shells
• Coffee grounds, coffee filters and tea bags
• Candy and confectionary products

From your yard

• Grass clippings, weeds and other gardening waste
• Dead and fallen leaves
• Flowers and potted plants (including discarded earth)
• Bark, wood chips and sawdust
• Small branches (less than 30 cm or 12 inches long)

Other

• Soiled paper towels and facial tissues
• Soiled paper and cardboard food packaging (pizza boxes, microwave popcorn bags, flour bags, etc.)
• Pet litter and waste
• Hair, pet fur and feathers

What items are NOT accepted?

All recyclable materials, including:

• Clean paper and cardboard
• Glass, plastic and metal containers

! These materials must be recycled through the city’s recycling program

Other

• Plastic wrap, Styrofoam food trays
• Diapers, sanitary products
• Ashes, cigarette butts
• Wood scraps, toothpicks
• Wax, waxed paper, chewing gum
• Dryer lint, dryer sheets
• Cotton balls, makeup removal pads
• Vacuum bags and their contents
• Animal carcasses
• Paint, motor oil and other hazardous household waste (HHW)

! HHW should be brought to the permanent depot at the Public Works yard (7001 Mackle Rd.; open weekdays 8am to 2:30pm) or to a Montreal Eco-Centre.

For more information about the composting, recycling and regular garbage collection programs, please consult ecoCSL.org or call 514-485-6868.