Green Bin

Who is eligible?

We collect green bin organics from single-family homes, legal duplexes, eligible townhouse units, and small apartment buildings (6 units or less) every week.  

Apartment buildings of 7 units or more, and most townhouse/condominium complexes do not receive curbside collection from us.

To check your eligibility, collection day and services,

Ask the Waste Whiz!

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Approved collection container

Due to COVID-19 measures, our offices are closed until further notice. Green bins are available at the Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) depots in Cambridge and Waterloo.  

We provide Green Bins to new homeowners, and replacement or additional green bins free of charge, as supplies last.  Green bins are available at the Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) depots at: 

• 201 Savage Drive, Cambridge, Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) depot, Monday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• 925 Erb Street West, Gate 2, Waterloo, Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) depot, Monday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

While green bins may be available for purchase from online retailers, please note that the Region of Waterloo does not reimburse for green bin purchases. 

Only use an a 45 litre (12 gallon) green bin to set out your household organics. 

• Small quantity of extra green bin organics can be put in an approved liner bag (see below for details on liner bags) and placed on top of your green bin for collection. Please make sure that the approved liner bag can support its contents.

If your green bin is broken, set it aside and do not use. It won't be safe for collection staff to empty. Please bring your broken green bin in to the locations above for a replacement. We can recycle it! 

If you do not have a green bin, 

• Use these tips to reduce food waste.
• Consider composting some food waste in your backyard. Fruit and vegetable scraps, tea bags, egg shells and coffee grounds can be composted in your backyard.
• Place organics in the garbage.  The garbage bag limit has been temporarily extended to 6 bags.

We will update this page as new information becomes available. 

What goes in?

• All food scraps including bones, peelings, shells, baking and cooking ingredients, spoiled and raw and cooked food (remove all packaging, stickers)
• Small amounts of liquids - no more than one cup per green bin. For large quantities of cooking oil, participate in our Used Cooking Oil drop-off program.
• Some paper products, such as greasy take-out paper packaging, paper baking cups, shredded paper
• Hair, nail clippings, fur, feathers, and wrapped pet waste. Read more about responsible ways to dispose of pet waste.
• Houseplants, cut flowers waste, natural greenery from wreaths (remove pots, wire, decorations)
• Wooden toothpicks, wooden stir sticks (for stirring coffee)
• Cold wood ashes (place in an acceptable liner bag)
• Pumpkins (remove candles, decorations and place on top of or beside your green bin)

Wondering if an item is accepted in our Green Bin program? Ask the Waste Whiz! 

What stays out?

• Anything that has touched your face if you have COVID-19, such as paper napkins, facial tissues, paper plates, food scraps
• Gloves, masks
• Butcher paper, parchment paper, plastic wrap, aluminum foil
• Cigarette butts and ashes
• Cleaning wipes and sponges, dryer lint and sheets
• Coffee pods (even if labelled "compostable", they are not accepted in our program)
• Corks
• Cutlery (metal, plastic, "compostable")
• Dental floss and toothbrushes
• Diapers, sanitary and hygiene products
• Dirt, vacuum sweepings
• Food that is in plastic, metal or glass packaging
• Gum
• Hazardous materials or liquids
• Large quantities of liquids
• Paper coffee cups
• Paper toweling that contains hazardous chemicals
• Plastic grocery, shopping and garbage bags (including "biodegradable", non-certified compostable)
• Plastic packets of condiments
• Plastic mesh tea bags
• Plastic, metal and glass food and beverage containers
• Water softener salt
• Wax (candle, cheese wax from wrapping, wax paper)
• Wire
• Yard waste

Certified compostable plastic bags can be used to line your green bin, but no other compostable plastic products (such as cutlery, cups, etc.) are allowed in the green bin.  

Wondering how to dispose of an item? Ask the Waste Whiz!

Collection schedule and rules

• Set out your green bin every week by 7 a.m. on your collection day, even if it is not full. This will help prevent odours and the contents sticking to the bin. Use this online lookup to find your collection day.
• There is no limit to the number of green bins you can set out each week.
• Use a liner bag in your green bin. Close the liner bag when you set it out for collection to make sure collection staff are not exposed to the organics.
• Do not overfill. Maximum weight for each green bin is 23 kilograms (50 pounds).
• Keep it visible and accessible for collection crews (not behind a snowbank, parked car, etc.).
• Bag pet waste and cold wood ashes in a paper or certified compostable plastic bag before you place it in the green bin. This helps protect collection crews and keeps your bin cleaner.
• Remove all packaging from spoiled food (place any recyclable packaging in your blue box!)
• Only set your green bin to the curb. Do not set only a  liner bag or your kitchen container.
• If you use certified compostable plastic liner bags, place the logo so it is visible. This helps collection crews know that it is the correct type of bag. Green bins with grocery bags, plastic cutlery and other unacceptable items will not be collected.
• Peel the liner loose from the edge of the bin when you set the bin to the curb. This way, the liner will drop out at collection. Liner bags that are frozen, stuck, or still stretched around the rim of your green bin cannot be collected.

Tips and FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

• Prevent food waste by using these tips.
• Line your kitchen container or your green bin to keep your bins cleaner and easier to empty.
• Bury and layer food waste with paper waste (like facial tissues or shredded paper) to prevent insects, reduce odours, and absorb liquids.
• When you "spring clean" your pantry, fridge, and freezer, empty the expired food into your green bin. Recycle all acceptable packaging in the blue box.
• Consider freezing meat/bones in paper bags and place in your green bin on your collection day.
• Use natural deodorizers such as baking soda or white vinegar to clean your bin. Do not use harsh chemicals or pesticides.
• Wash containers on a regular basis.
• Replace your green bin if it is cracked or broken.
• When preparing food, place a couple of sheets of newsprint on the counter, add food scraps, roll up, and toss in your green bin.
• Download our Waste app to set personalized waste collection reminders.

• Go to the Green Bin section of our Education and Resources page for detailed information sheets including how to buy liner bags, how to deal with pet waste, and how to prevent/control pests.

Where does it go?

Collection crews drop off green bin organics at Region of Waterloo facilities. Organics are then loaded into large trucks and shipped in bulk to the City of Guelph's Organic Waste Processing facility. 

At Guelph's facility, your organics are mixed with other organics, shredded and put into a series of tunnels to compost. The conditions in the tunnels are monitored to maximize the breakdown of the organics with oxygen.

After three to four weeks, the compost is removed from the tunnels and screened to separate out any plastics. This screened compost is formed into long piles called windrows and is monitored for several weeks while it matures indoors.

After an additional screening, the compost is tested to ensure it meets quality standards.

The high-grade finished compost is sold to local farmers who add it to their fields to grow more food.