Pre-treatment works by grinding and dehydrating household food waste, producing a dry, almost odor-free material that can be used as a soil amendment in your home garden. This process reduces the weight of food waste by approximately 70% to 75%.

The end product is dry and shelf-stable, making it easy to store at home until you are ready to use it in a home garden or drop it off at one of the public drop-off bins. Pre-treating food waste helps us keep food waste out of the landfill, and also reduce the likelihood of attracting wildlife to your curbside garbage. 

The program is open to all residents living in single-family homes within Nelson’s city limits, including both renters and homeowners. If you own a home but rent it out, your tenants can register themselves for a FoodCycler. 

At this time, residents of multi-family dwellings —such as apartment buildings, condos, or strata units—are not eligible except for one pre-selected building currently participating in a limited pilot project. If you are interested in future program opportunities for MFDs, you are encouraged to register online at nelson.ca/organicsregistration and join the waitlist so we can contact you if the program expands to other multi-family buildings. 

For Property Owners:  

If you are a property owner interested in learning how the program works for your rental property, please refer to our Landlord FAQs by clicking here. 

For Tenants:  

If you are a tenant curious about how the program will impact the property you rent, you can find information in our Tenant FAQs by clicking here. 

Participants receive training and educational materials when they pick up their appliance, along with a link to a 12-minute Program Tutorial Video. If you’ve moved into a home that already has a FoodCycler, complete a moving form or contact us at organics@nelson.ca for support. 

We’ve also launched a video series to help residents get the most out of their FoodCyclers at nelson.ca/organicsresources.

If you have accessibility needs, we’re happy to help. Residents can request a home drop-off of their FoodCycler appliance. Program staff can deliver the unit directly to your home, along with all necessary educational materials, and can assist with setup if needed. For any other accessibility-related questions or support, please contact us at organics@nelson.ca. 

No, the City of Nelson owns the FoodCycler appliance. This is outlined in Waste Management and Wildlife Attractant Bylaw No. 3198 (2011). Each FoodCycler is registered to the user and their civic address. If you move, the appliance must either be returned to City Hall or stay with the property, depending on what arrangements you made with program staff when you signed up. 

Residents are required to notify the program when moving in or out of a home.  

See FAQ #8: “I’m moving what do I do with my FoodCycler?”  

Removing or misusing the FoodCycler may result in replacement costs for the registered user. This bylaw helps ensure that FoodCyclers remain in the community, are used responsibly, and continue to contribute to the City’s waste diversion goals. Both homeowners and tenants are eligible for the program. This bylaw applies to both. See the  Waste Management and Wildlife Attractant Bylaw No. 3198 (2011) for more information. 

If your FoodCycler is producing odors during a cycle, it’s likely time to replace the carbon pellets, which filter odors while the unit is running. The carbon pellets should be changed approximately every 3–6 months. 

What to do: 

Replace the carbon pellets.  

When the pellets are no longer effective, odors can occur while the FoodCycler is running. Replace the carbon pellets to resolve this.   

Where to get carbon pellets: 

Nelson residents can pick up free replacement pellets at: Safeway (211 Anderson St) For best results, use the new pellets right away.  

What to do with used pellets: 

Do not process used pellets in your FoodCycler. Instead, dispose of them in one of the three community drop-off bins.  

Need more help? For step-by-step instructions on refilling your carbon: See page 8 of your program manual or Watch the Program Tutorial Video

Reset the carbon replacement indicator timer: 

After installing new pellets, reset the built-in carbon timer: Hold down the indicator light, located above the power button, for 6 seconds or until the unit beeps.

Note: You can reset the timer even if the indicator light is not currently active. 

If you're moving, it's important to notify the program as soon as possible. 

To do this, simply complete the Moving Form available on our Program Resource Page at nelson.ca/organicsresources. Once we receive your form, program staff will follow up with the next steps based on your situation. 

You can also notify us directly by emailing organics@nelson.ca.

If you no longer wish to participate in the program and would like to return your FoodCycler, please follow these steps: 

Notify program staff:

 Email us at organics@nelson.ca or call 250-352-TALK to let us know you intend to return your unit. 

It is the users responsibility to ensure that their FoodCycler is returned in good working order. Before returning, please ensure the following: 

• The unit is clean and wiped down 
• The FoodCycler is in working order (no damage, mold, or missing parts) 
• All components are included: 
  • Bucket 
  • Lid 
  • Power cable 
  • Program guide 

Returning FoodCyclers that contain food waste or mold, or have not been cleaned, may result in replacement costs as outlined in the Waste Management and Wildlife Attractant Bylaw No. 3198 (2011). This is important for the health and safety of staff and to keep appliances in good condition for future users.

Return location:

Bring the FoodCycler to SK Electronics, located at: 902 Front St, Nelson 

Open weekdays 8:30 to 4:30 

Wipe down your appliance: 

Before bringing your FoodCycler to SK Electronics, please take a moment to clean the appliance. A quick wipe-down helps the repair technician and ensures it is ready to be re-issued to the next user. Your understanding and cooperation is appreciated.   

Parking:

Parallel parking is available in front of the store entrance, on the right-hand side of the side-road off of Front Street. 

Be ready to provide:

• The name of the person who registered the appliance 
• A brief explanation for the return (including any issues with the unit, if applicable) 

Inspection and confirmation:

Staff will inspect the unit to confirm its condition. Once approved, you’ll receive an email confirming we’ve received your return. 

Need help using your FoodCycler instead? 

If you're not ready to return it and just need support or tips, we’re happy to help. 

Quick Tips Video Series

Email organics@nelson.ca or call (250) 352-8274. 

One of the key benefits of the FoodCycler program is access to a nutrient-rich soil amendment. 

It’s important to note that the by-product created by the FoodCycler is not compost and should not be used as a direct substitute for compost. Instead, it functions as a soil amendment, helping to enrich soil with nutrients and organic matter. 

Always follow the City of Nelson guidelines for using the material in your garden and preventing wildlife attraction, outlined in our Program Guide. 

We recommend adding 1 part amendment to 10 parts garden soil, or 1 part amendment to 20 parts garden soil if processing meat products through the FoodCycler, and mixing thoroughly to a depth of 6 inches. Allow the material to break down in the soil, and wait at least a week before planting.  

Are you a keen gardener, and ready for more detailed information about the soil amendment and how it can be used in your garden? For extra information, you can review Food Cycle Sciences’ Foodilizer Gardening Guide. Just remember that in order to amend your soil and avoid attracting wildlife, you  must always mix the material thoroughly into your garden to a depth of 6 inches.

The FoodCycler end product (soil amendment) has significantly less odor than wet food waste, which helps reduce the risk of attracting wildlife. However, it still has to be handled properly in the garden.  

Avoid attracting animals: 

Always store the soil amendment indoors in a sealed container until you’re ready to drop it in one of the drop-off bins or use it in your home garden. 

See FAQ #10 Is the soil amendment “Foodilizer” safe to use in my home garden? For how to mix it into your home garden without attracting wildlife.  

Participants can drop off their soil amendment at any of the three drop-off bin locations across the city. You can find the locations on our Drop-Off Bin Map. 

The lock combinations for these bins are printed on the back page of your Program Guide. Please keep the lock combination to yourself, to help prevent contamination in the drop-off bins. If you've misplaced your Program Guide or need assistance accessing the bins, feel free to contact us at organics@nelson.ca or call (250) 352-8255. 

You can also deposit used carbon pellets in the drop-off bins. Do not process the pellets through your FoodCycler. Simply deposit them in the drop-off bins. 

All materials collected at the drop-off sites are transported to the Regional Compost Facility in Salmo, where they undergo aerobic digestion to become high-quality Class A Compost. 

See our drop-off bin video for a refresher on using the bins (Using the Drop-off Bins for Soil Amendment) 

Each FoodCycler cycle uses approximately 1.5 kWh of electricity. On average, you’ll use about 1 kWh per kilogram of food waste processed. 

For a a two-person household using the FoodCycler regularly, that’s around $2 per month on their hydro bill.

Additionally, the City is powered by clean, hydro-electric power from Nelson Hydro’s Bonnington Dam, making the program even more environmentally friendly. 

Yes, this program is designed with sustainability and circularity in mind. Both the City and the manufacturer are committed to environmentally responsible practices throughout the program's lifecycle. This includes: 

• Comprehensive lifecycle analysis to evaluate the environmental impact of the appliance 
• Sustainability criteria integrated into the purchasing process 
• Emissions reductions by considering embodied carbon in the appliances and bins 
• Collaboration with local retailers to supply program accessories 
• Local repair program to extend the life of the appliances 
• Compostable refillable carbon filters to reduce waste 
• Modular design allowing for part replacements without discarding the entire appliance 

By incorporating these practices, the program aims to reduce environmental impact of waste management and support a more sustainable future.