Composting

Sustainability Starts at Home: Earth Week Sale – April 13 to 30

The City is offering Coquitlam residents great savings on gardening tool bundles to make your home and garden more sustainable (while supplies last). Backyard composter is $25 plus tax (regularly over $100), and during this time, get a free kitchen catcher. The City subsidizes the cost of backyard composters to encourage composting at home. 

To purchase the composter package, email EnvironmentalEducation@coquitlam.ca or call 604-927-3636. Pick-up is by appointment at the Engineering Customer Service Counter at City Hall, 3000 Guildford Way, or at the Animal Shelter, 500 Mariner Way.

Composting Helps Reduce Waste

Coquitlam promotes composting as part of its waste-reduction efforts, outlined in the Environmental Sustainability Plan. 

The compost being handed out was created with material that comes from residents’ Green Carts. It’s a great example of waste diversion – keeping organic material out of the landfill by transforming it into a usable product: nutrient-rich soil. Using compost also reduces the need for watering because it helps retain moisture.

Only Put Organics in Green Carts

Because Green Cart materials eventually end up in a garden as compost, it’s important to separate waste correctly and only put organics in the Green Cart. Contaminants like plastic bags – even ones labelled compostable or biodegradable – interfere with the composting process and bring micro-plastics into your yard.

Go to our Green Cart webpage or download the Coquitlam Curbside Collection app (free on Google Play or the App Store) for a handy Waste Wizard search engine and tips on separating waste correctly.

Get a Discounted Composter from the City

To encourage composting at home, the City subsidizes the cost of backyard composters. Discounted composters are available to Coquitlam residents  for $25 plus tax.  To arrange payment and pickup, please email  Environmental Education or call 604-927-3636 in advance for an appointment. 

For information about backyard composting visit our Waste Reduction webpage.