Green Bin Program FAQs1. Program Overview 1. Program OverviewQ: What is the Green Bin program?A: The Ottawa Green Bin program is a new City of Ottawa initiative that involves collecting residential organic waste (such as food scraps, yard waste or food soiled paper products) and turning it into compost. Using your green bin is an easy way to help the environment by extending the life of Ottawa landfills. You’ll also help create a valuable resource in the compost created from the organic waste collected in your green bin. Q: Why is the City of Ottawa implementing a Green Bin program?A: The City of Ottawa’s Green Bin program is an integral part of the City’s overall strategy for waste management. By diverting organic waste, we are able to extend the life our landfills and produce valuable compost that will be used by local farmers and for City initiatives. Independent research in 2008 shows Ottawa is ready for the green bins with 70 per cent of residents surveyed indicating they welcomed the Green Bin program and another 20 per cent interested in knowing more about it. Q: I’d like to learn more about the Green Bin program. Where can I get more information?The Ottawa Green Bin program is a new recycling initiative which involves collecting residential organic waste and turning it into compost. Using the green bin will help the City reach diversion targets set by the government of Ontario, by reclaiming and recycling the organic material that currently makes up over 45 per cent of residential waste. In doing so, the program will extend the life of current landfills, helping the City avoid spending hundreds of millions of dollars on sourcing and setting up new landfills. To learn more about this program, visit greenbinottawa.ca (or bacvertottawa.ca). There you will find downloadable resources such as a list of acceptable items, user guide and more. Q: I did not receive my Collection Calendar. How do I figure out my collection date for the green bin?2009-2011 Collection Calendars were distributed in the mail in November 2009. We have a new format this year, which looks more like a calendar. If you did not receive your calendar, you can contact 3-1-1 to have a hardcopy delivered, pick one up at the client service center nearest you, or you can view it online at ottawa.ca/collectioncalendar Q: How will the Green Bin program be paid for by Ottawa residents?A: On November 27, 2009, the Audit, Budget and Finance Committee voted to fund the Green Bin program on the general tax rate, as opposed to the fee proposal put forward by the Councillor sponsorship group in the Planning and Environment Committee budget. As such, garbage collection and diversion programs including the green bin will be part of resident’s property taxes. For the average household, this means a cost of $23 a year for the pick up of the blue and black items, and an additional $38 a year for the pick up and processing of green bin organic materials. Garbage collection amounts to $89 per year. This works out to less than $2.88 per week over the course of the year – less than the cost of a latte. The move is subject to council approval during final budget deliberations in January. Q: What is the cost of the entire Green Bin program?A: The total estimated annual operating cost for the Green Bin program is $13.6M. The capital cost for bins, kitchen containers, communications and outreach was approved and allocated in the amount of $15 M. Q: Why are rural residents paying for the Green Bin program if many are not part of the program?A: The City is taking a phased approach to the green bin roll-out, with the first stage of the program focusing on households with individual set-out of waste at the curb, which includes residents living in rural village areas. While the program is being rolled out in stages, it is intended that all residences with city waste collection will eventually have green bin collection. We feel all residents will benefit from the program regardless of when they are able to participate given the long term benefits of organic diversion. The Green Bin program is a cost-effective and environmentally-friendly way to reduce the amount of garbage we send to the landfill. Finding a new landfill site is extremely contentious and expensive. By diverting organics from the waste stream, the City will extend the life of its current landfills. Green bin collection for rural non-village areas will be reviewed prior to the new collection contract to start in June 2012. Q: Why should people use the green bin if they already use their backyard composter?Backyard composting of organics and lawn materials is a great option for people who are so inclined, but not everyone can or wants to compost in their backyard. The Green Bin program provides a way for those people to participate in a large-scale composting program. If you are a backyard composter, green bins can complement your activities, providing you with an opportunity to divert even more materials such as food-soiled paper products, used tissues, meat, dairy, cooking oil and kitty litter, which aren’t suitable for a backyard composter. Residents can continue to use organics for composting or agricultural uses, but green bin pickup will be mandatory. 2. About the binQ: What does the bin look like?A: The Ottawa green bin is an 80 litre bin approximately 41 cm (16 inches) wide by 46 cm (18 inches) deep and 79 cm (31 inches) tall. It comes with a special latch to protect from curious animals, and wheels to help you easily get it to the curb. The green bin will be delivered to your door—in most cases from between 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays or Saturdays—and you will find inside it a smaller kitchen container for food scraps, the green bin user guide and sample kitchen container bag liners. Please note that while bins will be delivered starting in September, collection of organics will begin January 2010. Please refer to your collection calendar for exact dates. Q: How is this different from leaf and yard waste pick up?A: The green bin can take many different types of items including your leaf and yard waste. Green bin waste will go to a local, indoor processing facility to be processed into compost. Q: I’ve heard rumours that the bins are breaking. Is this true?There have been limited cases with pilot program users, which we’ve traced back to a faulty mechanism on one of the lift trucks. This was corrected prior to general collection Please note that the green bins are under warrantee by the manufacturer. Bins that are broken will be replaced at no cost to the taxpayer. . If residents are experiencing issues with their bin, they can contact 3-1-1 or 311@ottawa.ca. Q: I did not receive my bin. How do I get one?The City of Ottawa’s Green Bin program will roll out in three phases between 2009 and 2012. You may not have received a bin simply because your residence may not be included in the Phase One roll-out. Please consult the phase-in schedule below: Phase 1a: The current phase sees collection for most Ottawa homes, specifically single residential properties, low-rise multi-unit residential properties with six units or less, rural village and estate residents with curb-side pick up. The next stage (Phase 1b) will see the remaining multi-unit housing with curb side collection receive their green bins and begin participating in the program before the end of 2010. Phase 2 (2011): Will include high-rise, multi-unit residential properties. Phase 3 (2012): With Council’s approval) will include the rural properties that were not included in the leaf and yard waste / organics collection over the duration of the last contract. If you did not receive your bin, but are part of the Phase 1 rollout, please contact 3-1-1 or 311@ottawa.ca. They will arrange for a bin to be delivered to you. Q: Are dog feces accepted in the green bin?The City has made a change to its list of acceptable Green Bin organics materials to eliminate dog feces. The City was recently been informed by the Ottawa compost processing facility that it can not include an allowance for the inclusion of dog feces as an acceptable material. The facility does allow for the receipt and handling of other small pet feces material, as long as it is included as a part of cat litter and small animal bedding materials. For a complete list of what can go in visit ottawa.ca/greenbin
Q: Where can I buy an additional green bin or kitchen container?A: If a resident wants an additional green bin or kitchen container, the resident is responsible to pay for the containers on pick up at any of the Client Service Centres listed subsequently. Containers are available on a first-come-first-served basis. This does not apply to multi-residential buildings that require additional green bins because there are more actual units than what is stated on the distribution database. Additional Green bins and/or kitchen containers are available for purchase at all City of Ottawa Client Service Centres. The cost per green bin for 2010 is $35.00 plus taxes. The cost per kitchen container for 2010 is $4.00 plus taxes. Client Service Centre Locations and Hours of Operation:
Rural Centres - Open one day a week as indicated below
Q: How do I get a replacement for a stolen or broken container?A: For stolen or damaged bins, contact 3-1-1 or 311@ottawa.ca Q: I just moved – how do I get a green bin?A: The Green Bin program is being phased-in across the City over three years. To find-out what phase of the roll-out your new residence corresponds to, please contact 3-1-1. Q: Can I use another type of “green” or “organic” bin other than the City-provided one?A: Not for curbside collection. Please use the City of Ottawa green bin for curbside collection. The bins have been specially designed and tested for this program and are fitted for pick up by an automatic lifter on the collection vehicles. Q: Is the City of Ottawa green bin animal-resistant?A: While no container will prove 100 per cent animal proof 100 per cent of the time, the City’s green bin does have a two-stage latch. While it’s possible for humans to operate with one hand, tests have shown this model of green bin poses a challenge for most four-legged creatures. For persistent critters that may chew on the lid, use a bit of menthol vapour rub around the edge of the lid. 3. Where to buy extra bins and papers linersQ: Will the City provide more than one bin? Or even more than one kitchen bin? If not, where can they be purchased and for how much?A: If a resident wants an additional green bin or kitchen container, the resident is responsible to pay for the containers on pick up at any of the Client Service Centres listed subsequently. Containers are available on a first-come-first-served basis. This does not apply to multi-residential buildings that require additional green bins because there are more actual units than what is stated on the distribution database.
Origami Bin Liner: Step-by-step guide to help you make a home-made bin liner from old newspaper. Q: How do I get a replacement for a stolen/new/broken container?A: For stolen or damaged bins, contact 3-1-1. Q: I just moved – how do I get a green bin?A: Contact 3-1-1. Q: Can I use another type of bin other than the City-provided one?A: No. Please use the City of Ottawa green bin when collection starts in January. The bins have been specially designed and tested for this program and are fitted for pick up by an automatic lifter on the collection vehicles. Q: Is the City of Ottawa green bin animal-resistant?A: While no container will prove 100 per cent animal proof 100 per cent of the time, the City’s green bin does have a two-stage latch. While it’s possible for humans to operate with one hand, tests have shown this model of green bin poses a challenge for most four-legged creatures. For persistent critters, use a bit of menthol vapour rub around the edge of the lid. 4. Delivery-related questionsQ: There was a small beige container in my green bin—what is it? Can I use this instead of the green bin?A: The small beige container is for your kitchen use. It’s an easy way for you to quickly collect your kitchen scraps and then conveniently dump them in the larger green bin for pick up. Please do NOT put the kitchen bin out at the curb. Your organic waste must be brought to the curb in the green bin. Q: My neighbour has their bin but I haven’t received the mine?A: The first phase of the program which involves single residential properties, low-rise multi-unit residential properties with six units or less and rural village residents with curb-side pick up started on September 21 with bin delivery taking 12 weeks to complete. If you fall into this group of residents and haven’t received your bin and your neighbours have, I will notify Solid Waste Operations and they will follow up with you shortly. Q: Why will it take longer for high rise apartments?A: Higher density households, such as apartments, have a common collection point, or front end-loading containers. In these cases limited space makes it necessary for staff to visit each location to determine container requirements and obtain agreement from residents/landlords about what solution will work best for their housing development. 5. Using the binQ: How much of my garbage can be accepted in the green bin?A: Approximately 45 per cent of the garbage (by weight) set out by the average Ottawa household is compostable organic material that can be put into the green bin. Remember, collection of organic waste won’t begin until January 2010. Q: Why no plastics?A: There are two primary reasons that plastics will not be permitted:
By not including plastics in the Ottawa Green Bin program, we can keep the cost of the program down, eliminate the need for additional disposal of contaminants and create a better end product. Q: What about diapers? What is the City doing for parents of diaper- aged children?A: Diapers cannot be included in your green bin due to the plastic content. Diapers should go in your normal trash. 6. About collection:Q: How often will my green bin material be collected?A: The green bin will be collected every week during the spring, summer and fall, and every two weeks in the winter on your regular collection day starting in January. You will receive a new Collection Calendar in November that will include the Green Bin pick-up dates for your zone. 7. Trouble shooting – CompostersQ: I already compost in my backyard – why do I need a green bin?A: Backyard composting of organics and lawn materials is a great option for people who are so inclined, but not everyone can or wants to compost in their backyard. The Green Bin program provides a way for those people to participate in a large-scale composting program. If you are a backyard composter, green bins can complement your activities, providing you with an opportunity to divert even more materials such as food-soiled paper products, used tissues, meat, dairy, cooking oil and kitty litter, which aren’t suitable for a backyard composter. Q: Can I put leaf and yard waste in the green bin?A: Yes. Leaf and yard waste can be used to top up your bin. With less garbage you may also have a unused garbage container that you can now reuse as a leaf and yard waste container. Simply mark “Leaf and Yard Waste” or “LYW” on the container and keep the lid off for collection. 8. Processing of compost:Q: Where will the green bin material be sent for processing?A: All material will be taken to the central composting facility. This indoor processing facility is located in an industrial park located on the south east corner of Rideau Road and Hawthorne Road. Q: Will any odours be released from the composting facility?A: No. It is an indoor processing facility optimized to minimize the risk of odour. All vehicles depositing organic material will go through a set of air-lock doors when entering and exiting the tipping area inside the building. All air leaving the building must pass through a bio-scrubber, a bio-filter and then is sent out through a 30-metre dispersion stack. This ensures that there are no odours emitted from the facility. Part of the Ministry of Environment’s requirement for the plant‘s operation is that odours cannot be detectable from the property boundary. Q: Is the compost processing facility accepting diapers and plastics?A: The City’s green bin program prohibits plastics and sanitary products such as diapers. We have no plans to include them as part of the Green Bin program. However, the composting facility is petitioning the province of Ontario to allow the processing of plastics and diapers at their facility. The City of Ottawa is against this, but the decision rests with the province. We made a concerted effort to develop the best possible organics program that will divert the most organic waste from current landfills, and result in a more marketable end product at a lower cost to the City. We believe plastics of any sort are difficult to separate from the organic waste and result in higher levels of residual waste and odours. By eliminating plastics entirely, we save on processing costs and disposing of plastics residue. And without plastics, Ottawa will have a high-quality compost material at a cost-effective rate. Q: What will be done with the compost?A: Under our contract with the composting facility, they retain 90 per cent of the compost and the city retains ten per cent. The composting facility plans on selling their share to the local Ottawa farming community. This same process has been successful in other communities to the point where they have more demand for compost than they can supply. The City will use its ten per cent for internal greening efforts and community-based tree planting and garden projects. Q: Will residents have an opportunity to purchase the composted material once it has been processed?A: Possibly. The City may allocate a portion of its share to compost sales or giveaways, which would be advertised to the general public. Q: Will compost still be available at the Trail Rd. landfill?A: Yes. Q: I saw that in Toronto some of the organics were sent to landfill. Will the material in my green bin be sent to the landfill?A: Definitely not! The material will be converted into nutrient-rich compost. Q: What about industrial, commercial and institutional organics?A: Staff are working with the industrial, commercial and institutional sector to promote composting at the composting facility. |
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