15 food waste drop-off stations in Winnipeg will help curb impacts of climate change, city says

Winnipeggers will be able to drop off food scraps at one of 15 stations being set up to divert food waste from landfills.

The City of Winnipeg and Compost Winnipeg, a Green Action Centre organization that already picks up residential and business compost for a fee, will launch the new project on Oct. 15 to help reduce the impacts of climate change. 

The 15 food waste drop-off stations will be at the three 4R Winnipeg depots and other locations in the city, mostly at community centres. 

For every tonne of food waste diverted from a landfill, two tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions are removed from the atmosphere, Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham said in a news release on Wednesday. 

People can collect food waste in any container that's lined with newspaper, paper bag or compostable bag that's certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute.

The food waste can be stored in a fridge or freezer to reduce odours until it's taken to a drop-off station and tossed in the designated cart, the city said. 

Compost Winnipeg will manage the drop-off sites and take the food waste to the compost facility, the news release said. 

People can throw out items like fruit, vegetables, seeds, nuts, meat, fish, bones, solid fats, baked goods, coffee grounds and filters, tea bags, pet food and food-soiled paper products. Other accepted items can be found on the city's website. 

Items like plastic bags, coffee cups, glass, metal, compostable food containers, cups, straws and utensils are not accepted. 

Evan Duncan, councillor for Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood and chair of the city's water and the environment committee, said people should take advantage of the food waste drop-off stations to help the city's efforts to reduce carbon emissions. 

Compost Winnipeg is looking for ways to add drop-off stations in other areas of the city to make composting easier for people, said Amanda Wolfe, the organization's general manager. 

The project is expected to run until a city-wide green cart curbside food collection program is introduced in 2030.