Organics (green bin)

The City of St. Thomas collects organic waste from your green cart every 2 weeks, on the opposite week from recycling collection.

See the Collection Schedule page to find your collection day and schedule.

Cart requirements

• close the lid completely
• keep your cart and its contents under 100 pounds
• we do not accept plastic bags - only bags with the Biodegradable Products Institute logo will be accepted
• you can also keep material loose inside the cart
• we only collect material inside your cart. We do not collect excess organic material in bags or bundles outside the cart

What you can put in your Green Cart

• brush, up to 40 centimetres (15 inches) long and 5 centimetres (2 inches) in diameter
• coffee grounds and filters
• dairy products, such as cheese and yogurt
• egg shells
• fresh or dried flowers
• fruits and vegetables
• grains, such as pasta, bread and cereal
• leaves and yard waste
• meat, including bones
• paper drink trays
• pet waste and litter
• soiled pizza boxes
• tea bags
• used tissues and paper towel

If you are unsure of where an item goes, please check Recycle Coach

NOTE: Dead animals must NOT be placed in compost or recycling. Double-bag the animal and place it in your garbage. Please see Garbage under "Additional Information" for further details.

Moving?

Your Green Cart belongs to the City of St. Thomas and must stay with the property. We are not responsible for replacing a lost or stolen cart.

Seasonal Leaf and Yard Waste Collection

The City of St. Thomas provides seasonal curbside leaf and yard waste collection to help residents manage excess yard waste.

Before placing yard waste at the curb residents are encouraged to consider environmentally friendly alternatives before placing leaf and yard waste at the curb:

• mulch your leaves: mulching leaves into your lawn provides valuable nutrients and helps improve soil health.
• use your garden: add leaves to garden beds to provide nutrients and winter protection for plants.
• use your green cart: place excess leaves and yard waste in your green cart before using seasonal curbside collection.

Curbside Collection Requirements

During designated collection periods, additional leaf and yard waste may be placed at the curb on your regular waste collection day.

Accepted materials include: grass, leaves, weeds, plants and brush.

All materials must meet the following requirements:

• paper yard waste bags: must weigh no more than 45 lbs. (20 kg) each.
• bundles of brush: must weigh no more than 45 lbs. (20 kg), be no longer than 3 feet (0.9 m), and contain branches no thicker than 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter.

Please ensure all materials meet the collection requirements to avoid missed collection.

Residents are encouraged to check the Collection Schedule for current seasonal collection dates.