Green Bin Organics Program

This week I received a green bin at my home; it was just outside my door and all the way down my street. It seems my neighborhood was added to the next 50,000 homes enlisted into the regions “Green Bin Organic Program” which started in October 2006 in 5 neighborhoods totally 5000 homes.

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.

Here is the breakdown that’s been followed so far:

• 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 – Added 40,000 more homes
• October 2010 – 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 ten 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 Region of Waterloo has a webpage dedicated to breaking down how to use the bin, what waste can go into it, how to line the bin with paper bags and where to get them, and so on.

Please visit the site and educate yourself as to how to properly use your green bin.

RESOURCE: Green Bin Organics Program

SOURCE: Flickr Image, CC-By