By East Kootenay Invasive Species Council

Did you know that how you get rid of your garden waste could be helping invasive plants spread?

Invasive plants are often tough, resilient, and surprisingly good at surviving – even after you’ve pulled them.

Many species found in B.C., like knotweeds and hawkweeds, can’t be destroyed through backyard composting or even some municipal composting systems. Improper disposal, like illegal dumping or composting invasive plants at home, is one of the leading causes of their spread into parks, forests, and wild spaces.

So what can you do?

• Preventing the spread starts with proper disposal.
• Do not compost invasive plants in your backyard or regular green bin.
• Bag plant material in heavy-duty plastic and take it to a landfill or incineration facility.
• Secure your green waste when transporting it to avoid dropping seeds or fragments along the way.
• Ask your municipality about disposal programs – some may offer pick-up services for a fee.
• Be PlantWise: Know what you grow and choose native or non-invasive alternatives.

Let’s keep invasive plants out of B.C.’s wild places! Dispose with care and spread the word, not the weeds.

Learn more.

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