Organics

ALL food waste, including:

• Baked goods
• Cereal
• Coffee grounds, filters, tea bags and loose tea
• Dairy products
• Eggs and egg shells
• Flour and grains
• Fruit and Vegetables
• Grease, fat and cooking oil (solid)
• Leftovers and plate scrapings
• Meat, fish and bones (raw or cooked)
• Nuts
• Pasta and rice
• Sauces

Soiled paper products, including:

• Cotton balls (free of make-up and chemicals)
• Facial tissues
• Greasy pizza boxes
• Microwave popcorn bags
• Paper towels, napkins and plates
• Shredded paper

Other compostable items, including:

• Hair and pet fur
• House plants (soil removed)
• Pumpkins (place beside Green Bin)
• Saw dust, wood chips and shavings (not pressure-treated wood)

Yard waste (small quantities)

• Keep the kitchen container in a convenient spot, like under the kitchen sink or on the counter.
• Consider putting a container in your bathroom to collect tissues and toilet paper rolls.
• Line the kitchen container to keep it clean. Newspaper is effective and free, but you can also buy certified compostable bags.
• Remove any packaging from food or other compostables before placing it in the bin to avoid contamination.
• On your regular collection day, put your Green Bin at the curb before 7 a.m. to ensure that the truck won’t miss it.
• The Green Bin does not have to be full to be collected, so you can put it out every week.
• Like garbage bins/bags, there is a weight limit to your green bin.  Each green bin container must not exceed 20 kg (44 lbs). There is no limit to the number of green bins you can set out, and you can purchase additional bins for $15 at 30 Centre Street in Orangeville.
• You can clean the Green Bin and kitchen container using vinegar, regular dishwashing soap, or baking soda.

Lining the Green Bin and/or kitchen container is a great way to keep them clean and prevent odours. There are a few options for lining the bin.

1. No liner at all. Placing organics in the Green Bin loose is acceptable, but keep in mind that food may freeze to the bottom of the container in the winter and may require to be rinsed out more often if there is no liner.
2. Newspaper or paper bags. We suggest wrapping compostable materials in newspaper or paper bags to absorb moisture, reduce odours and pests, as well as to help prevent materials from freezing to the bottom of the green bin in the winter.
3. Certified compostable bags. Some residents may prefer the additional convenience of using certified compostable bags in the Green Bin or kitchen container. These liners are 100% compostable, come in sizes to fit both containers and will minimize odours, insects and leakage. The bags must have the logo shown here to be accepted. Please tie the bags instead of using twist ties.

Plastic bags (clear green plastic bags, shopping bags, garbage bags, etc.) are NOT permitted in the collection truck and will NOT be collected. However, another option is to duct tape a plastic bag into the green bin, so that it does not come out of the bin when the contents are collected.