Green Bin

Lining your green bin helps to ensure that all the material in it gets collected, and helps keep it cleaner. There are two choices for lining your green bin:

1. Paper liner bags: Paper liner bags made specifically for the green bin are available at local grocery and hardware stores. These bags do not need certification logos. Some have a shiny cellulose lining to give them more wet strength; these are safe to use in our program. As well, you can use any other type of paper bag as a liner, such as paper take-out bags. 
2. Certified compostable plastic (CCP) liner bags: These bags are the only type of plastic that is allowed in our Green Bin program (and accepted by our organics processor), and are identified by specific logos. These bags must have at least one of these logos:

Tip! If you have extra organics occasionally, place them in a paper or CCP liner bag, and put the bag on top of your green bin when you set it out for collection.

Broken green bins are recyclable. Please drop it off and pick up a free replacement (while supplies last) at one of our Waste Management Administration offices:

• 201 Savage Drive, Cambridge (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
• 925 Erb Street West (Gate 1), Waterloo (Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

Holiday schedule:  These sites are closed on all statutory and designated holidays.

1. Place a container in the kitchen to collect organics in a handy spot, such as on the kitchen counter. Put other containers or paper bags in each bathroom.
2. Write your address on your green bin in permanent marker.
3. Set your green bin in a convenient, well-ventilated, shady area, like the garage.
4. Place a paper egg carton or balled up newsprint in the bottom of your green bin so contents empty out.
5. Post information about green bin recycling on your bulletin board or put our Green Bin program magnet on your fridge. (If you need copies of these materials, please call 519-575-4400.)
6. Discuss green bin recycling with your family.

• Repurpose a lidded container that you may already have, such as a plastic ice cream container or kitty litter bucket.
• Purchase a small lidded bucket or kitchen organics container from local home improvement stores. Available in plastic, metal/stainless steel, etc.

Note:  Do not set out kitchen containers for collection.

If you want to line your green bin, you have two choices:

1. Paper liner bags. Paper bags do not need certification logos. Some paper bags have a shiny cellulose lining to give them more wet strength and are safe to use in our program.
2. Certified compostable plastic (CCP) liner bags: These bags are the only type of plastic that is allowed in the program (and accepted by our organics processor) and are identified by specific logos. These bags must have at least one of these logos:

Beware! There are other bags that look like CCP bags, but are not acceptable. Generally, if the label says "biodegradable", "oxo degradable" or "degradable", they are not certified, do not fully compost, and are not accepted in our program.

If you can't find a certified compostable plastic logo, do not buy it for your green bin.

When you use certified compostable plastic liner bags:

• Do not double bag. 
• Roll or twist the top of the bag; avoid knots. Knots do not compost well.
• Place the logo so it is visible, if possible. This helps collection staff know that it is the correct plastic.

TIP! When you set out your green bin to the curb for collection, loosen the liner bag away from the rim, sides and bottom of the bin.

• Put crumpled balls of newspaper, a paper egg carton or a paper take-out drink tray at the bottom of your green bin.
• Add a layer of shredded paper or facial tissues in between layers of food scraps.
• Line your kitchen container with a Do-it-Yourself liner.
• Use paper bags you get from take-out food, grocery stores, etc.

If you have extra organics occasionally, place one paper or certified compostable plastic bag of organics on top of your green bin for collection.

If you have extra organics on a regular basis, pick up an additional green bin from the Region.

Backyard composting can complement the green bin!

• Items such as meat, bones and sauces that can attract pests in the yard are accepted in the green bin.
• Some residents using backyard composters choose to give themselves a break over the winter and use the green bin while their composters are buried in the snow.

• Cover food scraps with a layer of paper waste, such as shredded paper or facial tissues.
• Deter flies by smearing citronella, an essential oil, on the outside rim of your containers.
• Use natural deodorizers such as baking soda and white vinegar.
• For fruit flies, spray the bin with a mixture of half white vinegar and half water.

Do not use chemical pesticides.

For more tips on how to prevent and control pests, check out our flyer.

• Grease the inside of your green bin with vegetable oil.
• Drain liquids before you put food scraps in your green bin. No more than one cup of liquid should be put in your green bin.
• Put crumpled balls of newspaper, a paper egg carton or a paper take-out drink tray at the bottom of your green bin.
• Layer food waste with paper waste, such as shredded paper or facial tissues.
• Do not set out your green bin the night before collection. Instead, set it out by 7 a.m. on your collection day to lessen the chances of it freezing completely.
• If you use a green bin liner bag, loosen it from the sides of the bin when you set it out for collection.
• When it snows, place your green bin at street level by shoveling a flat area close to the curb at the end of your driveway. Do not place your green bin on top of or behind snowbanks.

There are a number of commons reasons why items are not collected, including by-laws and bans.

If you have concerns about your collection, please contact our Call Centre at 519-575-4400, available 24 hours a day, every day.

Pet waste in the green bin has to be wrapped to protect the health and safety of our collection crews. Using CCP bags is one way to wrap pet waste.

Beware! There are pet waste bags that look like CCP bags, but are not acceptable. Generally, if the label says "biodegradable", "oxo-degradable" or "degradable", they are not certified, do not fully compost, and are not accepted in our program.

In our last visits to pet stores, staff found certified compostable CCP pet waste bags at the locations listed below.

If you find CCP pet waste bags at another store, please email us.