Our list of accepted materials is long, it includes: Fruit & Vegetables, Organic Yard Waste, Compostable Food Contaminated Fiber’s, Breads, Grains, & Pastas, Proteins & Bones, Solidified Dairy Products, and compostable plastics! (ONLY Cedar Grove or Loraas-approved compostable plastics) Please use the accepted items search to verify your products composability before putting it in your organics cart/cube. We use the cedar grove standards for this, Cedar grove is a company out of Washington that has tested all compostable plastic products in their organics facility to see if they truly do compost and have posted those results for the public to use, and this is the facility ours is modelled after.
We’re looking for both Green & Brown Materials for this facility:
Green materials are nitrogen-abundant and carbon neutral. Meaning that if you let them sit for a few days they will begin to create odours. This video shows some prime examples of these materials. Fruits, Vegetables, Meats, Dairy, Floral waste etc. Generally if it’s in the produce section of the grocery store it’s going to be a green material.
Brown AKA Dry materials are high in carbon and act as a filter to absorb unpleasant odours. For example paper towels, newspaper, and wood chips.
Our Programs
Download our Residential Organics Program Guide Here.
Our residential organics program is run as a cart service program similar to the waste & recycling cart programs available. Weekly pickups and organic bin liners are available.
Accepted Items
Fruits & Vegetables
Ex: banana peels, carrot tops, corn husks, cherry pits, tomato vines, & spoiled veggies.
Organic Yard Waste
Ex: grass clippings, dandelions weeds, leaves, branches, wood chips, & untreated wood.
Compostable & Food Contaminated Fibres
Ex: coffee filters, loose tea & tea bags, food-contaminated paper napkins & bags.
Breads, Grains & Pastas
Ex: bread, pizza, popcorn, grains, pasta, & cereals.
Proteins & Bones
Ex: egg shells, fish, bones, & raw or processed meat
Solidified Dairy Products
Ex: yogurt, sour cream, cheese, & solid butter
Not Accepted Items
Glass & Metals
Ex: jars, bottles, dishes, silverware, aluminum & tin.
Oils & Liquids
Ex: aerosol sprays, cooking oil, milk, syrup, soup, pickle juice, broth & coffee creamer
Hygiene Products & Animal Waste
Ex: human and pet waste/feces, hair, dryer lint, animal carcasses, & elm trees.
Biodegradable Plastics
Ex: plastic coffee pods, plastic cutlery, plastic cups & lids
Food Packaging & Plastic Wrap
Ex: plastic or glass containers, bags, cellophane, waxed cardboard, & styrofoam
Labels, Stickers, Product Add-Ons
Ex: bread tags, burlap, stickers, netting, absorbent meat tray pad, & elastic bands
Tips & Tricks
Helpful Hints
- Do not bag organic items
- Place items loosely into cart
- Cart lids must be completely closed
- Freeze foul smelling foods and place into cart the day of collection
- Keep carts in a shaded area if possible
- Do not compact items in the cart
- Place your cart out for collection; even if not full
- Acceptable cart liners include paper products
Download our Source-Separated Organics Program Guide Here.
Our commercial source separated program is excellent for restaurants, grocery stores, & event centers. Available in both cart & cube service year round with weekly pickups.
Accepted Items
Fruits & Vegetables
Ex: banana peels, carrot tops, corn husks, cherry pits, tomato vines, & spoiled veggies.
Organic Yard Waste
Ex: grass clippings, dandelions weeds, leaves, branches, wood chips, & untreated wood.
Compostable & Food Contaminated Fibres
Ex: coffee filters, loose tea & tea bags, food-contaminated paper napkins & bags.
Breads, Grains & Pastas
Ex: bread, pizza, popcorn, grains, pasta, & cereals.
Proteins & Bones
Ex: egg shells, fish, bones, & raw or processed meat
Solidified Dairy Products
Ex: yogurt, sour cream, cheese, & solid butter
Not Accepted Items
Glass & Metals
Ex: jars, bottles, dishes, silverware, aluminum & tin.
Oils & Liquids
Ex: aerosol sprays, cooking oil, milk, syrup, soup, pickle juice, broth & coffee creamer
Hygiene Products & Animal Waste
Ex: human and pet waste/feces, hair, dryer lint, animal carcasses, & elm trees.
"Biodegradable & Compostable" Plastics
Ex: plastic coffee pods, plastic cutlery, plastic cups & lids
Food Packaging & Plastic Wrap
Ex: plastic or glass containers, bags, cellophane, waxed cardboard, & styrofoam
Labels, Stickers, Product Add-Ons
Ex: bread tags, burlap, stickers, netting, absorbent meat tray pad, & elastic bands
Tips & Tricks
Cart Tips
- Please only use compostable liners supplied by Loraas (unless otherwise approved).
- Place organic waste loosely into your cart.
- Do not compact organic waste into your cart.
- Have the contents of your cart emptied regularly (even if not full).
- How can I further prevent odours and unwanted pests?
- Layer dry and wet materials or add moisture wicking fiber (paper towel or grass clippings) in your cart.
- Freeze or place foul smelling foods into an air-tght container. Empty container contents into your cart the day of your pickup.
- Keep your cart in a shaded, cool, or well-ventilated area.
- Use provided cart liners. If there is leakage, rinse out your cart occasionally with vinegar or baking soda to remove odours naturally.
Cube Tips
- Cube service is available for customers with loading docks only. Do not bag or box items.
- Cubes are insulated and do not require a paper or plastic liner.
- How can I further prevent odours and unwanted pests?
- Keep the cube lid closed when not in use.
- Keep the cube in a shaded, cool, or well-ventilated area.
- Cubes will be replaced by Loraas during each pick-up with a clean cube.
Download our Commercial Depackager Organics Program Guide Here.
Our commercial source separated program is excellent for grocery stores, and warehouses. With a massive list of accepted items this is our most progressive and industrial program. We use our Thor depackager to remove all packaging from the organic waste. Packaging makes up approx. 2% of these products and will be landfilled while the 98% organic waste will be composted.
This service is only available in Cube format with weekly pickups & a clean cube swap out.
Accepted Items
Proteins & Bones
Ex: egg shells, fish, bones, & raw or processed meat
Produce & Packaged Foods
Ex: bananas, carrots, corn, tomatoes, sandwiches, frozen meals, canned food, & spoiled fruit & vegetables.
Compostable Fibres
Ex: coffee filters, loose tea & tea bags, food-contaminated paper napkins & bags.
Breads, Grains & Pastas
Ex: bread, pizza, popcorn, grains, pasta, & cereals.
Solidified Dairy Products
Ex: yogurt, sour cream, cheese, & solid butter
Compostable Plastics
Ex: plastic coffee pods, plastic cutlery, plastic cups & lids
Floral Waste
Ex: flowers, petals, greenery, plants, leaves, stems, branches, bulbs, soils, & mulches.
Food Packaging & Plastic Wrap
Ex: plastic containers, bags, cellophane, waxed cardboard, & styrofoam
Not Accepted Items
Glass & Metals
Ex: jars, bottles, dishes, silverware, aluminum & tin.
Oils & Liquids
Ex: aerosol sprays, cooking oil, milk, syrup, soup, pickle juice, broth & coffee creamer
BioDegradable & Product Add-Ons
Ex: bread tags, burlap, stickers, netting, absorbent meat tray pad, & elastic bands
Hygiene Products & Animal Waste
Ex: human and pet waste/feces, hair, dryer lint, animal carcasses, & elm trees.
Tips & Tricks
Cube with Depackaging Service
To create high-quality compost, there must be a balanced mixture of organics. "Brown" (A.K.A dry materials) are high in carbon and act as a filter or absorb unpleasant odours (ie: paper towel, newprint, woodchips). "Green" (A.K.A. wet materials) are nitrogen-abundant and carbon neutral. Meaning that if you let them sit for a few days, they will begin to create odours (ie: meat, dairy, fruit).
Quick Tips
- Place organic waste loosely into your cube (with or without packaging).
- Do not bag or box items.
- Do not compact organic waste into your cart.
- Have the contents of your cube emptied regularly (even if not full).
- Cubes are insulated and do not require a liner.
