Organics Cart

Green organics carts are collected every 2 weeks in the winter and weekly in the summer.

What is considered organic?

Organics are classified as food waste, yard waste, approved paper products (including food-soiled paper products) and pet waste. These get categorized as items that are made of natural materials and can be broken down into compost. A good general rule of thumb is if the material came from something that was once living, it probably goes in your green organic cart.

Sort organics properly

Did you know that placing an item in the organic cart that is not permitted contaminates the whole truckload and costs more? Please familiarize yourself with the resources below to become a super sorter, helping us make sure that the correct items go into the correct carts.

Download the Organics Sorting Fridge Printout [pdf]

Sorting help

Acceptable items

Below is a list of acceptable items that can be disposed of in your organic cart.

All food scraps

  • Egg shells and dairy
  • Meat, fish, shellfish and bones
  • Jams, sauces and cooking oil
  • Fruits and vegetables
  • Pastries, cookies, cakes and muffins
  • Bread, noodles, rice, beans and grains
  • Nuts, seeds, chips, popcorn and candy

Yard waste

  • Leaves
  • Twigs and branches
  • Plants
  • Weeds

Paper products

  • Shredded paper and cardboard

Food-soiled paper products

  • Paper plates
  • Pizza boxes
  • Tissues, napkins, paper towels
  • Compostable cutlery

Pet waste

  • Only permitted when placed in compostable bags

Not permitted

Below are the items that cannot be disposed of in your organic cart.

  • NO food in packaging – separate food scraps from containers before composting.
  • NO plastic bags of any kind.
  • NO plant pots or bedding trays – always separate plants and soil from the container before composting.
  • NO diapers or wipes – even if they say compostable on the label. They are still not permitted.
  • NO foam, plastics, coffee cups, stickers or labels.
  • NO garbage in the organic bin.

Cart facts

The carts are the property of the City of Beaumont. They stay with the home where they are delivered and should never leave that address. Report damaged or stolen carts by submitting a service request.

Carts should not be modified in any way, including adding a lock.

The carts can hold the equivalent of 3-4 big bags of material.

If you would like to rent an additional waste or green cart, please email waste@beaumont.ab.ca. There is a one-time rental fee of $85 and a monthly fee of $12 for additional carts. Please note that only homeowners can rent additional carts. Availability of additional carts varies based on provider supply.

Approved bags for organics carts

The only approved bags are paper bags or see-through 100% compostable bags marked by the manufacturer with both the U.S. and Canadian compostable logos. You can purchase 100% compostable bags in Beaumont at:

  • No Frills (Glad Compostable Bags)
  • Home Hardware (Nature Compostable Organics Bin Liners)
  • Sobeys (Glad Compostable Bags)
  • Rexall (Glad Compostable Bags)
  • Shoppers Drug Mart (Glad Compostable Bags, Bio-life Compostable Mini Kitchen Bags)

Putting organics in the carts

  • It’s recommended to line the bottom of your green organics cart with newspaper, paper towel or an approved 100% compostable bag so items don’t stick to the bottom.
  • If desired, you may also place organic waste in paper bags and dispose of the paper bags in your organic cart.
  • Layer wet items with dry ones.
  • If possible, wait until the day before collection day to clear your fridge of food you’re disposing of.
  • To help reduce odours, wrap meat and seafood in newspaper.
  • Cart contents must not exceed 220 lbs.

Keeping your cart clean

To help reduce odors:

  • Keep the cart lid closed.
  • Wrap material in newspaper or use approved compostable bags.
  • Alternate layers of ‘brown’ material (leaves, shredded paper, cardboard, sawdust, etc.) and ‘green’ material (meat, dairy, garden waste, etc.).
  • Store your organics cart out of the direct sun, in a cool, well-ventilated area year round.
  • Add a small amount of baking soda.
  • Rinse the cart weekly or every second week with a water and vinegar mix or a diluted bleach solution.