Compostable.ca was first launched in 2015 as a project of Compost Montreal, a social enterprise that focuses on greenhouse gas reduction and the improvement of agricultural soils through the creation of compost. Since 2007, Compost Montreal has been actively involved in all aspects of organic waste management and consultation, and it is through this experience that the importance of replacing disposable products with compostable options became clear. 

Our team has been built from some of the outstanding people we have worked with over the years. Each coming from their own specific discipline, all members of our team share the same core values, have a standard of excellence in the work they do, and want their work to contribute to society and the environment in the most positive possible way.

At Compostable.ca, our mission is to provide individuals, businesses, and institutions with the knowledge and tools they need to make a better future: One that is fully compostable.

FAQ

Wait a second… Are all these things really compostable?

Having been directly involved in the composting industry since 2007, we have tracked the evolution of compost technology and infrastructure choices across the country and internationally for some time. Because of this, our team holds a fair amount of insight into the information provided by government and industry regarding what is compostable and what is not.

The short answer to your question is yes. With a few well-indicated exceptions, all the products we sell are fully compostable in commercial facilities. 

Does my city collection program accept these products?

We encourage you to have a look at your municipal government website in order first to know what it is that is being said in this regard. It is important to know that municipalities are generally following guidelines that are provided to them by the industry partners who receive and process the collected waste. 

Depending where you live, your government may have already worked with industry to establish the facts and maximize waste reduction programs. In many towns and cities this work has not yet been done, so the guidelines posted on municipal websites still offer an incomplete picture of what can be composted in local facilities.  

Municipal governments need to be aware that in many cases the guidelines they have been provided are based largely on information that does not reflect all the facts, and may not be in the best interest of society. Of course there are exceptions and nuances, and we will continue our work to help guide everyone through them. 

With a few well-indicated exceptions, all the products we sell are compostable in commercial facilities. For more information about the municipalities we know best, like Montreal, Toronto, and Ottawa, among others, please refer to the "I live in Toronto, Ottawa, or Montreal and I’m confused... What can be composted here?" section below.   

What about pet waste in compostable bags?

With very rare exception, properly composted animal waste of any kind is highly beneficial to soil quality. Compostable bags such as our pet waste bags are now accepted in most municipal collection programs. Furthermore, when you consider the amount of waste being produced by all our pets, it is clear that this is an important item to capture in municipal organics collections. 

As to whether or not your municipality states that you can put this combination into your city collection bin is another matter.

Can I put compostable coffee pods in my city collection bin?

Having been directly involved in the composting industry since 2007, we have had the pleasure of following the Club Coffee story for quite some time. We were, in fact, in attendance when the results of their joint study with the City of Toronto were presented to the industry for the first time. 

Before the City of Toronto would allow Club Coffee’s coffee pods into the municipal collection program, they needed to see that they would compost properly in city facilities. The study that they partnered on showed conclusively that these coffee pods are in fact fully compostable, even when put through the most high-tech and complicated organics processing methods.

Club Coffee provides a great deal of information about this study and about how their pods are made on their website. Their FAQ is very well done and can be helpful in guiding consumers - and municipal governments - in their understanding of what actually can be included in city collection programs.

I live in Toronto, Ottawa, or Montreal and I’m confused... What can be composted here?

While we’re still studying the details of Ottawa’s collection program, we have followed the developments in Toronto for years, and can safely say that if we sell it, you can put it in your green bin.

As for Montreal, it’s a little more complicated: Here is the link for the city’s organic waste collection guidelines. 

You can see here what is acceptable and not according to city collection guidelines. Mostly this is good news for the compostable products we sell; even the bioplastics that go into many of our products - like our compostable coffee pods - are not listed as excluded from acceptable items in the city collection program. 

Pet waste, however, appears to be counselled against for the moment. Why? Most likely it is simply the preference of the processing facilities that receive the waste, because otherwise, animal waste is highly compostable. Furthermore, properly composted animal waste of any kind is of great benefit to soil quality, and compostable bags such as our pet waste bags are now accepted in most municipal collection programs. 

Note that if you live in Lachine, L'Île-Bizard–Sainte-Geneviève, Pierrefonds-Roxboro, or Ville Saint-Laurent, your organic waste is picked up along with yard waste, and this has made your local guidelines more strict. If you live in one of these areas and would like more information, please contact your municipal representative.