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Spring is in the air, and it’s time to think about getting back out into the garden. After all, we will all likely be spending the bulk of our time at home this year. We’ve spent the winter binging Netflix, so we may as well tackle the endless to-do list and hope that the sun makes an appearance while we are at it.
There’s one catch; much of Vancouver and the Lower Mainland has extreme limitations to what can be picked up by city waste collection services. If you’re gardening only extends to a few pots on the balcony, this won’t be an issue; however, if you plan to spend your time landscaping your backyard or finally pruning your trees, then you need to put plans in place. Here are a few tips for how to get rid of garden waste on the Lower Mainland.
Composting
You might live in an area that has a compost collection service; however, composting yourself has two big advantages:
- You can get free, nutrient-rich soil for your garden projects
- You can put other items in your city collection bin
Composting is the decomposition of organic materials like food and garden scraps by microorganisms. Your waste can be turned into rich soil in a matter of months, and you can help the environment in the process. Like any skill, composting takes a bit of fine-tuning and learning to find the right balance of dry and wet materials, but overall it is straightforward. A good compost mix should smell earthy, without any pungent odour. Check out Metro Vancouver’s Backyard Composting Guide for more info.
Vermiculture
Vermiculture, vermicomposting or worm composting is an incredibly fun project where the whole family can get their hands dirty. You can buy a pre-made vermiculture bin, or you can make one yourself without much trouble. Then buy some red wiggler worms and get started having your organic waste and old papers made into compost for your garden. Like regular composting, a vermiculture bin shouldn’t have any foul odour. In fact, worm composting is a fantastic option for those living in an apartment.
Green Bins
What are you planning to do with those rocks or the massive pile of pruned branches? Despite your best efforts to reduce or recycle your garden waste, there will likely be times that you’ll produce more than you can handle. Companies like Bin There Disposal Services Ltd can take away garden waste that might otherwise be difficult to remove. Garden waste bins come in a variety of sizes and include drop off and pick up. You’ll have seven days to get cracking on the garden and fill it up with stones, large branches, excess dirt and the like. Wherever possible, the waste is diverted from landfills, so speak to a specialist when getting an initial quotation.
There are quite a few options for responsibly getting rid of garden waste in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. With a bit of planning, recycling your garden waste can be an exciting project in its own right.