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Green Bin Organics Program   |
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The Region of Waterloo's Waste Management Division is implementing an organics collection program.
This program is similar to the Blue Box program, except it collects household organic materials such
as food scraps and paper towels in green bins. The Green Bin program helps save valuable space in our
local landfill and turns "waste" into useful compost.
This program will be implemented in phases. Here's the current Regional "Green Binning" plan:
When? |
Roll out strategy: |
October 2006 |
Test pilots! Five city neighbourhoods totalling 5,000 homes tested bins and bags as part of the green bin program. |
October 2007 |
More pilots! 5,000 additional homes added. |
October 2008 |
Added 40,000 homes. |
October 2009 |
Add 40,000 more homes. |
October 2010 |
Proposed to add 50,000 more homes - all single family homes in the Region will have access to the program.
And more pilots! Proposed to add 5,000 apartment units and 10 commercial and industrial properties. |
2011/2012 |
Proposed to add 40,000 apartment units and 100 commercial/industrial properties. |
2012/2013 |
Possible ban of organics from landfill in late 2012 |
The Green Bin program is being phased in over several years. Only certain neighbourhoods
on certain garbage collection days are participating. Below are details on who is participating when:
| Area | Participating now | 2009 - Being added this fall | 2010 - Proposed |
| Cambridge | Monday* | Wednesday | Tuesday |
| Thursday | Friday | |
| Kitchener | Monday (Deer Ridge area only) | Monday | Wednesday |
| Tuesday | Thursday | |
| Friday | | |
| Waterloo | Wednesday | Tuesday | Monday |
| Thursday | | |
| Friday | | |
All townships-
North Dumfries,
Wellesley, Wilmot, Woolwich | | | All collection days |
* except households having collection in laneways. These homes are expected to be added in fall, 2009.
If you are in a neighbourhood that is participating now, and you need more information or containers
- please email us at customer-service@region.waterloo.on.ca
Acceptable Items - Updated July 2009 |
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| Baked goods - e.g. bread, cakes, cookies, dough, pies
Butcher paper
Butter & margarine
Candy
Cat litter
Cereal
Charcoal
Coffee cups (PAPER, no lids)
Coffee filters, grounds
Corn cobs, husks
Cotton balls
Dairy products - e.g. cheese, sour cream, yogurt
Dryer lint
Eggs, eggshells
Facial tissues
Feathers
Fish, fish parts
Flour bags
Fruit
Fur
Grains & rice
Gravy & sauces
Grease, lards, fats
Hair
Herbs & spices
House plant waste
Jams & jellies
Mayonnaise
Meat, meat products, bones
Muffin/baking cups (paper)
Nail clippings | Nuts & shells
Paper bags
Paper fast food packaging
Paper napkins
Paper plates
Parchment paper
Pasta
Peanut butter
Pencil shavings
Pet waste (including bedding, droppings, kitty litter)
Pizza
Pizza boxes
Play dough (homemade)
Popsicle sticks
Popcorn
Popcorn bags (microwave)
Salad & dressings
Sawdust
Shellfish
Shredded paper
Snack foods
Sugar & sweetener packets
Sugar & syrups
Sugar bags
Tea bags (except Lipton pyramid tea bags)
Tissues
Toothpicks (wood)
Vacuum bags (no plastic)
Vegetables - including waxed vegetables such as rutabaga
Wood ashes (cold)
Wood chips |
Not Acceptable- Updated July 2009 |
Band-Aids
Batteries, paint & other hazardous waste
Biodegradable plastic bags
Candles
Chewing gum
Cigarette butts & ashes
Cleaning sponges
Corks | Cutlery (metal, plastic)
Dental floss/tape, toothbrushes
Diapers
Dryer sheets
Lipton Pyramid Tea (plastic mesh tea bag) | Metal - anything in part or as a whole is made of metal of any kind)
Plastic - plastic bags, biodegradable plastic bags, plastic containers, plastic wrap, etc.
Sanitary products - (personal)
Textiles | Water softener salt
Wax
Waxed paper
Wood, treated wood
Recyclables - place in blue box
Yard Waste - compost in back yard, set out during seasonal pick up, bring to transfer station |
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When you received your Green Bin, a supply of kraft paper liner bags were provided to make it easy to
participate in the program. However, using liner bags is not mandatory. The following is information on
liner bags – including the benefits of using liner bags, how to use liner bags, several alternatives to liner bags,
and where to purchase liner bags - to help make it easy being green!
Benefits of using kraft paper liner bags
- are leak resistant
- reduce odour and the presence of insects
- help maintain a clean bin
- facilitate collection by making it easy to empty
Using kraft paper liner bags
Open the bag and place securely – fitting the bag snugly as much as possible to the bottom of the container.
Some liner bags may be taller than the container – so you may have to fold or roll down the top of the bag.
Consider only lining one container at a time – either your Green Bin or Kitchen Container. This will stretch
out your supply of bags.
Consider placing small liner bags in other rooms of your home to collect organics – e.g., in the bathroom to
collect tissues and hair. |
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Alternatives to kraft paper liner bags
There are several alternatives to paper liner bags which can help save you money: *
(a) Maintain your Green Bin and Kitchen Container with regular washing. Try to add organics that absorb
liquids – like shredded paper and facial tissues – instead of liner bags. *
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(b) Use other types of paper bags – e.g., flour or sugar bags, paper shopping bags. Check to see if stores
you shop at have a paper bag option available. These other types of paper bags may not be as strong as
the liner bags but will still help absorb liquids.
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(c) Make your own liner bag in 8 easy steps! Turn yesterday's news into today's liner for your Kitchen
Container. This easy and economical alternative is brought to you by the City of Barrie.
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(d) Wrap your organics up in newspaper or line your Green Bin with a layer of newspaper.
Purchasing kraft paper liner bags
Click here for a list of stores in your area which are selling kraft paper liner bags for your Green Bin. Some paper bags have a cellulose lining to give them more wet strength. This type of bag is acceptable in our program.
Order On-line!: Your Green Bin came supplied with kraft paper bags which we purchased from Bag to Earth, a Canadian company committed to the environment. You can learn more about Bag to Earth and order kraft paper bags on-line. |
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Reminder!
Do not purchase any liner bags made out of plastic, compostable plastic, or biodegradable plastic. These are
not acceptable in the Green Bin Program for several reasons:
- Different ‘biodegradable’ bags compost at different rates. This can create issues with the quality of
the end product.
- Organics need oxygen to compost properly. Wrapping in plastic prevents the microbes from
getting much needed oxygen and contributes to odour issues.
- Our processor composts in windrows outside. Once the organics are ground up, plastics can blow
around and cause litter issues.
Please do not place any type of plastic in your Green Bin.
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Write your address on your Green Bin in permanent marker.
This will help prevent your green Bin getting mixed up with your neighbour's.
Place your Green Bin at the curb beside your garbage.
This will make collection faster now that the same truck picks up both garbage and Green Bin organics.
Set out only your large Green Bin to the curb for collection.
Please do not set out your kitchen container or just paper liner bags. The driver can only empty out
Green Bins safely and efficiently.
Please do not add any plastic to your green Bin, including "biodegradable", "compostable" plastic bags.
The materials collected from this program are going to a facility that composts the organics outside and cannot
handle plastics.
Wrap up pet waste. Pet waste is acceptable in the Green Bin. However, for the health and safety of your collection
driver, please make sure that pet waste is wrapped up well in newspaper or paper towelling or put in a paper bag. *
Capture organics in other rooms of your home. Set a paper liner bag in your bathroom to collect tissues and hair.
Store your Green Bin in a convenient, safe location.
Your Green Bin should be placed in a well-ventilated spot that, ideally, is not accessible to animals.
Place your Green Bin to the curb every week - even if it is not full.
This will ensure you have enough space in your bin and reduce odours.
Handle your Green Bin gently.
This will help it to last longer. If it does get damaged, please contact the Region for a replacement.
Backyard composting is still a part of 'green' households.
If you are composting in your backyard, keep up the good work! Backyard composting is still the best and
least expensive way of getting rid of fruit and vegetable scraps. Use the Green Bin for items such as meat,
bones and dairy products which should not be composted in your backyard. If you need a composter,
pick one up free of charge! Click here for locations and hours of operation.
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Place your Green Bin to the curb every week - even if it is not full.
Store your Green Bin in a shaded area.
Warmer weather can increase odour problems.
Use paper to line your bin.
Line your Green Bin or alternate layers of food waste and paper. Use newsprint, box board or other types of
paper packaging or buy liner bags (see below for a list of local retailers). Lining and layering with paper helps
absorb liquids and limits odours.
Freeze meat, fish scraps until your collection day.
This will limit odour problems and reduce the risk of insects in your Green Bin.
Rinse your Kitchen container daily and your Green Bin weekly.
Regular cleaning with a mild biodegradable detergent and warm water is especially important during warmer
months.
Reduce the smell.
Sprinkle a small amount of baking soda, garden lime, biodegradable laundry detergent (without bleach), or vinegar
in your Kitchen container and Green Bin as a deodorizer.
Do not use pesticides in your Green Bin.
If you do find insects in your Green Bin, do NOT use pesticide to get rid of them. Please use the tips listed below
and insect problems should be minimal.
Flies are naturally attracted to organic waste. If flies have access to organics, maggots could appear in a
few days. (See below for details.)
Here are some simple things you can do to prevent flies being attracted to your Green Bin:
- Do not leave food waste in the open.
- Empty your Kitchen Container into your Green Bin on a regular basis.
- Close the lids on your Green Bin and Kitchen Container.
- Clean your Green Bins and Kitchen Container after emptying.
- Layer or cover food waste with shredded paper, used paper towels or facial tissues, or wrap food waste in old
newspaper.
- Use white vinegar as an effective, environmentally-friendly disinfectant.
- Do not store the bin in direct sunlight.
The Life Cycle of the Fly
The life cycle of the common house fly has four stages, egg, larva (maggot), pupa and adult fly. Adult female flies will lay
their eggs on any organic material that will provide suitable food for the maggots when they emerge. A female fly can lay
up to 500 eggs in several batches of 75 to 150 eggs, over a three to four day period. The house fly can complete its life
cycle in as little as 7-10 days. Flies typically live for 22-25 days. |
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Don't forget about summer BBQs!
Make sure your summer get-togethers are green! Put any food scraps, paper plates and paper napkins in your Green Bin.
Remember, Styrofoam plates and plastic cutlery are not accepted. | |
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Sometimes the ice and snow make being green a challenge. Here are a few quick tips to make
sure your green bin gets collected every week.
Place your green bin at street level.
Place your green bin at the end of your driveway or shovel a flat area close to the curb.
Make sure your green bin is visible.
Clear away any snow that could be blocking your green bin from view.
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We will be sending you updates on the program and asking for your feedback.
February 2007 Newsletter
June 2007 Newsletter
February 2008 Newsletter
Summer 2009 Newsletter |
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