Where can I drop off my Christmas tree for composting?
You can drop off your Christmas tree at any one of our designated locations between December 27 and January 15.
Yard Waste and Backyard Compost
What is the Guaranteed Analysis of the compost produced at Cinnamon Ridge?
The Guaranteed Analysis is:
Minimum Organic Matter (OM) = 35%
Maximum Moisture Content = 35%
How much yard waste is used to make compost?
In 2023, 15,051 tonnes of yard and wood waste was diverted from the landfill and used in compost production.
Can I use 100% compost in my flower pots?
No, compost is a soil additive. Too much compost could be detrimental and may kill the plants.
Our Parks Department recommends compost to be mixed at a ratio of 3 kg of compost to 7 kg of soil.
For top dressing of lawns, add 3 kg of compost per 1m2 of lawn or add 1/2 cm of compost to your lawn in the spring or fall, trying to spread the compost evenly. Don't smother the grass blades.
Is the Cinnamon Ridge compost tested for heavy metals and pathogens?
The City routinely takes random compost samples for analysis each year to ensure acceptable levels of heavy metals. This process is dictated by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (responsible for compost-producing facilities under the Fertilizers Act).
Can I bring noxious weeds like knapweed to the yard waste sites?
No. Noxious weeds should be bagged and placed in your garbage container or taken to the landfill for proper disposal.
This is due to the possible spread of weed seeds that may occur during transport and handling, which may contaminate our yard waste sites.
Is the Cinnamon Ridge compost contaminated with pesticides, as there is no control on what type of yard waste comes in?
Compost made from yard waste will contain some pesticide residues but very likely at untraceable levels.
In general, the commercial composting process is quite good at breaking down the modern pesticides that are used on landscapes today. When Cinnamon Ridge first opened up, the City tested compost for pesticides and herbicides for three consecutive years and no pesticides or herbicides were ever found.
Since then, the Pesticide Use Control Bylaw No. 26-4 was introduced, further reducing the amount of pesticides used in the city.
Is wastewater effluent used in the compost process?
Yes, wastewater effluent is used in the making of compost.
Wastewater effluent is pumped under the Thompson River to Cinnamon Ridge to be used for irrigation on farms in the area and to provide moisture for our compost. Water not pumped under the river for reuse is released directly into the river. Wastewater effluent is treated to the same level as its release point. So in this case, the wastewater is treated to the same water quality level as the Thompson River.
Is wastewater sludge added to the Cinnamon Ridge compost?
No, compost is made from 100% yard waste.
Up until 2011, the City used to mix biosolids (wastewater sludge) with yard waste on half of the Cinnamon Ridge site. The biosolids compost met all strict health guidelines mandated by the Organic Matter Recycling Regulation and was certified as Class A Compost (compost that can be sold to the general public).
Even with meeting the highest standards, the City chose not to make the biosolids compost available to the general public and was used internally by various City departments.
The City no longer uses biosolids at Cinnamon Ridge.
Is pet waste or farm manure added to the Cinnamon Ridge compost?
No, pet waste or farm manure is not allowed to be dropped off at yard waste sites or added to our compost.
Although we can't guarantee that no animal manure makes it into the yard waste people bring in, the City randomly tests a few compost piles a year to ensure that Fecal Coliform and Ecoli counts are well below accepted levels.