Site Accessibility Information Access Key 1 to Skip to Top Navigation Access Key 2 to Skip to the Three One One link Access Key 3 to Skip to City of Winnipeg Main Menu Access Key 4 to Skip to Left Navigation Menu Access Key 5 to Skip to Content area Access Key 6 to Skip to Right Sidebar content area Access Key 7 to Skip to Footer Links

Composting

What is composting?

Composting is the natural process of breaking down organic material, such as kitchen and yard waste, to produce a nutrient-rich, soil-like material. The process works with the help of micro-organisms such as bacteria and fungi combined with air and moisture.

Why should I compost?
  • Composting turns kitchen and yard waste into usable resources - for free.
  • It benefits plants, trees and shrubs by returning valuable nutrients to the earth and increasing water retention of soil.
  • Composting reduces the amount of garbage sent to the landfill. Composting can reduce your household garbage by approximately one-half.
What materials can be composted?

Most organic materials, such as:

  • grass clippings
  • garden waste, flower clippings and leaves
  • weeds (before they flower)
  • fruit and vegetable scraps
  • tea leaves, tea bags, coffee grounds and filters
  • nutshells and eggshells
Do not compost:
  • weeds gone to seed
  • meat, fish and bones
  • nuts
  • animal or human waste
  • rhubarb leaves
  • diseased plants
  • dairy products
  • oils and fats
What can I do with the finished compost?

Finished compost is a free and natural alternative to store-bought chemicals and fertilizers and can be used in a number of environmentally friendly ways:

  • A natural fertilizer in flower and vegetable gardens
  • On the soil surface around trees and shrubs
  • For house plants and planter boxes
  • As lawn top dressing
  • To make compost "tea" to water flowers, vegetables, house plants or trouble spots on the lawn

How to compost

For detailed information on composting, contact the Green Action Centre composting information line or sign up for their free composting workshop.

Additional information

  • View our related grasscycling / mulching information. Just leave the grass clippings on the lawn after mowing. The clippings quickly dry out, decompose, and recycle nutrients back into the soil and make your lawn healthy and green. Every time you throw away one bag of grass clippings, you are throwing away about 1/4 pound of lawn fertilizer!
  • We will collect your yard waste once every two weeks from April to November, on the same day of the week that we empty your garbage and recycling carts. The start and end dates will depend on the weather. The yard waste will be composted into a reusable soil-like material and used to landscape finished landfill areas
  • Loose or bagged yard waste, including leaves and branches less than 100 millimetres (4 inches) in diameter, can be dropped off year-round at Brady Road Resource Management Facility (Brady Road Landfill). Tipping fees will not apply. However, should any load contain other materials, then fees will be applied on the entire load. Please use lane one when entering the landfill and staff will direct you to the leaf it with us yard waste compost drop off area across the road from the scale.
  • Information is also available by contacting 311.
  • Guidelines for Compost Quality
Last updated: September 15, 2022

Was this information helpful?

How can we make this web page better?

Information collected will be used to improve our website. Do not use this form to submit a request for service or information because it will not be forwarded to departments for response. To submit a request for service or information, contact 311.

This form is not intended to collect personal information; however, any personal information you choose to include in your comments is collected by the City of Winnipeg under the authority of section 36(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act for the purpose of improving our website and will not be used or disclosed for any other purposes, except as authorized by law. Contact the Corporate Access and Privacy Officer by mail (City Clerk’s Department, Susan A. Thompson Building, 510 Main Street, Winnipeg MB, R3B 1B9) or by telephone (311) if you have any questions about the collection of this information.

Ces renseignements sont-ils utiles?

Comment pourrait-on améliorer cette page Web?

Les renseignements recueillis serviront à l’amélioration de notre site Web. Prière de ne pas se servir de ce formulaire pour soumettre une demande de service ou de renseignements, car la demande ne sera pas transmise au service en question. Pour soumettre une demande de service ou de renseignements, veuillez communiquer avec le 311.

Le présent formulaire ne vise pas à recueillir des renseignements personnels. Cependant, les renseignements personnels que vous choisissez d’inclure dans vos commentaires sont recueillis par la Ville de Winnipeg en conformité avec l’alinéa 36(1)b) de la Loi sur l’accès à l’information et la protection de la vie privée dans le but d’améliorer son site Web et ne seront ni utilisés ni divulgués pour d’autres raisons, sauf dans les cas où cela est autorisé par la loi. Communiquez avec l’agent de l’accès à l’information et de la protection de la vie privée de la Ville par courrier au Bureau du greffier, immeuble Susan-A.-Thompson, 510, rue Main, Winnipeg (Manitoba) R3B 1B9, ou par téléphone au 311 si vous avez des questions sur la collecte de ces renseignements.