Acceptable Materials: Items for your Green Bin

Niagara Region's goal is to divert at least 65% of waste from landfill by 2012. The critical component of reaching that goal is to divert food and yard waste into the compost process.

Currently, organics make up 36% of the waste. By increasing this amount, we can have a positive impact on the environment, and the lifespan of our local landfills.

What Can and Cannot go in your Green Bin

Yes

No

From the Kitchen bones, meat, chicken, fish bread, toast muffins, cake, cookies, pies and dough coffee grounds and filters cooking oil, grease or fat dairy products (solid) eggs and egg shells fruits, vegetables and peelings nuts and nut shells paper towels / napkins (not soiled with hazardous material) pasta and rice sauces and gravy table scraps and plate scrapings tea bags tissues (not soiled with hazardous material) From the Yard grass clippings leaves plants and weeds small twigs and hedge trimmings - max. 1.5 cm (0.5") diameter and 30.5 cm (12") length In General brown paper bags cooled fireplace ashes paper coffee cups - remove and discard lids paper egg cartons paper take-out trays and plates pet fur pet waste and kitty litter - wrap in paper or place in a certified compostable plastic or paper bag sawdust and wood shavings soiled newsprint and cardboard (not soiled with hazardous material)

From the Kitchen plastic wrap & wax paper From the Yard branches - collected separately sod or soil treated wood products (lumber) Other Items cigarette butts or ashes dead animals diapers feminine hygiene products lubricants plastic bags rubber products and textiles Plastic bags that are labelled 'degradable', 'biodegradable' or 'oxo-degradable', but do not carry the BPI logo are NOT accepted.

Tips On Preparing Your Organics

Kitchen Waste

Look for this symbol (BPI logo) when buying compostable plastic bags.

• Lining your Kitchen Catcher / Green Bin
  No liner is required, however, you can line your Kitchen Catcher or Green Bin with a paper bag, certified compostable bag or newspaper. Compostable plastic bags must carry the BPI logo. (shown above)
  
  You may also wrap your organics in paper and place directly into your Kitchen Catcher or Green Bin.

• Preventing Odours and Insects
  Place all acceptable materials inside the container and firmly close the lid to prevent odours from escaping and attracting household insects.

• Emptying your Kitchen Catcher into your Green Bin
  When your kitcher catcher is full, empty it into your Green Bin and set out on your collection day. If you are using compostable liner bags, you may wish to change the liner every 3 to 4 days.
  
  Your Green Bin should be set out for collection every week, even if it is not full.

Regular Plastic Bags are Not Accepted
Do not use regular plastic bags they are not compostable and are not accepted for collection.

Placing your Organics at Curbside for Collection

• Identify the Container as "Organics" (if you are not using a Green Bin)
  If you are using plastic or metal rigid containers to store your organics (food & yard waste) inside, make sure the containers are clearly identified as "Organics". This allows us to distinguish between your organic materials and your regular garbage. If you require an "Organics" label, please call the Waste Info-Line at 905-356-4141 or 1-800-594-5542.

• Acceptable Containers/Bags
  Leaf and Yard Waste may be placed in open-top, reusable metal or plastic containers or Kraft paper bags.

• No Limit for Organics
  There is no container or bag limit for Organics or Leaf & Yard Material.

Niagara Region 

Garbage, Recycling, Organics

• Disposing of Items List
• Large Items/Appliances
• Household Hazardous Waste
• Landfills
• Recycling
• Green Bin
• Yard Waste
• Garbage

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