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Organics

Your Green Bin is for food scraps, organic waste and other compostable materials. Keeping organics out of the garbage reduces landfill waste and turns your food scraps into compost in as little as eight weeks.

A calendar

Collected weekly

All cities and towns in Niagara, no limit on amount

An analog clock reading 12:20

Out by 7 a.m.

On your regular collection day, no earlier than 5 p.m. the night before

Bin for organics

Need a Green Bin?

Buy or replace your Green Bin at locations across Niagara

What goes in the Green Bin

The Green Bin accepts many items that can't safely go in a backyard composter, including meat, dairy and pet waste. Not sure if something belongs? Use the item disposal guide to search for any item and find the right bin.

  • Fruit and vegetable scraps
  • Dairy products
  • Bread, pasta and grains
  • Tea bags
  • Paper towels and napkins
  • Cold fireplace ashes
  • Meat, fish and bones
  • Eggs and eggshells
  • Coffee grounds and filters
  • Food-soiled paper
  • Pet waste and kitty litter
  • Hair and nail clippings

Using your Green Bin

Kitchen Catcher

A Kitchen Catcher is a small countertop container for collecting food scraps inside your home before transferring them to your outdoor Green Bin. Kitchen Catchers are available for purchase at locations across Niagara.

Lining your Green Bin

Most items can be placed directly in the Green Bin without a liner. However, materials such as kitty litter, pet waste, wood shavings and cold fireplace ashes must be placed in an acceptable liner first.

Storing your Green Bin

Store your Green Bin in a garage, shed or somewhere away from direct sunlight. Keep your Green Bin away from railings, walls or other objects that rodents or pests can use to climb or crawl.

Acceptable liners

  • Cardboard
  • Certified compostable bags
  • Newspaper or flyers
  • Paper food waste bags

Plastic bags are not acceptable liners, even if labelled "biodegradable." Only use certified compostable bags or paper-based liners.

Containers and replacements

Green Bins and Kitchen Catchers are available for purchase at locations across Niagara. If your container is damaged, you can replace it free of charge.

You can also use any other rigid container as a substitute Green Bin, as long as it meets these requirements:

  • Height: 91 cm (36") or less
  • Diameter: 61 cm (24") or less
  • Weight: 22.7 kg (50 lbs) or less when full
  • Must have handles
  • Must be clearly labelled as organics — order a free organic sticker [needs link]
Raccoon

Keeping pests out

Green Bins are designed with a lockable handle to reduce odours and keep raccoons and other animals out. Here are a few extra steps you can take:

  • Purchase a Green Bin with a raccoon-proof latch
  • Rub vinegar on the outside of your bin; pests dislike the smell
  • Use a bungee cord to secure the lid; remove it before putting the bin at the curb
  • Put your Green Bin out on collection morning, not the night before

Backyard composting

We encourage using your Green Bin even if you have a backyard composter. It accepts many materials that can't safely go in a backyard composter, including bones, meat, dairy, food oils and pet waste.