Disposing of Food Waste in SCRD Parks is Now Much Easier

Tags:  2024 | News Release
Date Released: March 5, 2024

If you are out for a walk in a park or attending an event at a community hall, you may see one of the new food waste containers pictured below.

To encourage waste reduction and diversion and in support of the Sunshine Coast Regional District’s (SCRD) Organics Diversion Strategy, which includes a disposal ban for food waste, the SCRD is installing food waste containers at several parks and community halls.

Food waste accounts for approximately 35% of household garbage found in the Sechelt Landfill. Diverting food from the landfill will help extend the life of the landfill which at our current rate of disposal, is scheduled to close in 2026.

Food waste and food soiled paper collected from park and community hall containers will be processed by our region’s food waste processor into compost, a beneficial resource.

SCRD park visitors are asked to “leave no trace” and not throw food waste in the garbage bins or on the ground. ‘Natural’ food items will not decompose quickly.

When visiting SCRD parks and trails that do not have a bear-proof food waste containers, the SCRD asks that visitors pack out food waste.

Looking for tips on how to reduce food waste? Visit: www.scrd.ca/reduce-food-waste.

The SCRD manages and maintains a variety of parks, trails, beach accesses, playgrounds, sports fields and bicycle/walking paths, find out more at www.scrd.ca/parks.