Home / Environment / Metro Vancouver Battles Organic Waste Crisis: Landfills Struggle to Contain Compostable Trash
Metro Vancouver Battles Organic Waste Crisis: Landfills Struggle to Contain Compostable Trash
27 Aug
Summary
- Organic waste banned from Metro Vancouver landfills for 10 years, but still most common item
- 22% of regional waste was compostable organics in 2024, down from 28% in 2021
- Multifamily buildings struggle with organic waste diversion, 32% of their waste is compostable
As of August 2025, Metro Vancouver continues to grapple with the challenge of keeping organic waste out of its landfills. For the past decade, a ban has been in place prohibiting the disposal of compostable materials like food scraps, but these items remain the most common single component of the region's waste.
In 2024, an average of 70 kilograms of compostable organic materials per person ended up in the garbage across Metro Vancouver, down from 87 kilograms per capita in 2021. While this represents progress, compostable organics still made up 22% of the region's total waste last year, ahead of plastic at 19%.
One of the biggest hurdles is multifamily buildings, where 32% of the waste stream consists of compostable materials. Factors like limited space, odor concerns, and inconvenient sorting systems contribute to higher organic waste rates in these types of residences compared to the regional average.
Metro Vancouver has implemented measures like surcharges for haulers bringing in loads with excessive visible organics, and a public awareness campaign urging residents to treat "food scraps as not garbage." However, officials acknowledge there is still work to be done to further divert compostable waste from landfills, where it can produce potent greenhouse gas emissions.
