Food scraps pickup program

We’re introducing a twice-weekly food scraps pickup program in select residences to help make waste sorting more convenient.

How the program works

• • 1. Pick up free compostable bags from your building waste room 
    2. Line your compost pail using only the provided compostable bags (no plastic) 
    3. Compost your food scraps  
    4. Tie the bag and place your pail outside your unit before your residence pick up time 

After pick up, service staff will empty your food scraps and replace your compostable liner for continued use. 

Residence food scraps pickup schedule

What can I put in the food scraps pail?

It’s surprising how much you can put in the food scraps pail, from cooked food to uncoated, wooden chopsticks.

Find out all the items you can put in the food scraps pail (and how to sort other waste at UBC):

• Sort-it-out guide: check out the poster
• Waste Sorting Recyclepedia: search any item and find out where it goes.
• Sort it Out game: a fun game to help you figure out how to sort waste at UBC.

Why are we doing this

Food scraps make up more than 50% of the waste produced in student resident buildings. By composting food scraps properly, we can:

• • • Reduce landfill waste
    • Lower greenhouse gas emissions
    • Improve recycling and waste sorting overall
    • Help make residence communities cleaner and more sustainably

But most importantly, we want to make composting easier for students!

Learn more

To learn more about the food scraps pickup program, email residence.events@ubc.ca. If you have questions about the food scraps pickup program in your residence, contact your Building Services manager.

Learn more about sustainability and climate action in residence and how you can help achieve UBC’s goals by visiting Live Green: Climate Action for Student Residents.