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What is Organic Waste?Organic materials are compostable, meaning they break down naturally using micro-organisms found in the natural environment to make compost, a nutrient-rich, soil-like material that enhances soil structure and improves plant growth when added to your garden or landscaping project. Food, yard waste and certain paper products as well as pet waste are all considered organic materials.
What Happens to My Green Bin Material?
How Does it Get Processed? At most of the facilities receiving the Region's Green Bin compostables, the trucks enter an enclosed "receiving hall". There, the compostables are dropped on a concrete floor to await processing. The Green Bin compostables are then fed into a machine where the plastic bags holding the compostables are opened mechanically. Depending on the technology used by the Region's contractor, the material can then go through one of several processes. In a typical aerobic (with oxygen) composting system, the Green Bin material is mixed with yard waste to "bulk up" the material, reduce it's overall moisture content and initiate the composting process. At the Region's newest contractor's site, Orgaworld Canada, the material is then loaded into long concrete enclosed tunnels inside a building, where the material is composted under climate controlled conditions. Existing micro-organisms in the food waste break down the material naturally producing compost. The material goes through an initial rapid breakdown known as the thermophilic stage. This process creates heat that pasteurizes or sterilizes the compost, ridding the material of any pathogens or harmful bacteria. It's this pasteurization phase that allows York Region to accept animal feces and diapers in its Green Bin and still produce a compost that's safe to use. The compost is screened to remove any plastics or contaminants and then placed outdoors to mature for the final composting stage. At this point the material is still breaking down but at a much slower rate and at lower temperatures to produce the finished, stabilized material we all recognize at our local nursery as compost. Once complete the compost is tested to ensure it meets the strict guidelines set out by the Ministry of the Environment. The finished product is then used in a variety of applications including horticultural and agricultural use, land reclamation and roadside erosion control. How Do I Use the Green Bin?It's recommended that you keep your large Green Bin in the garage or in an area of easy access. Your small kitchen container can be placed under your kitchen sink or on your counter for convenience. There are 2 ways to use the Green Bin Program.
![]() Option 1. Line your kitchen container with a bag – compostable bags and paper bags are preferred, but plastic grocery bags currently accepted as liners. In the case of plastic bags we do encourage you to minimize the quantity of bags you use as they end up as residue and are landfilled at the end of the process. Place your kitchen scraps and organic materials in the kitchen container. Once the bag is full, tie it and place in the large Green Bin.
Option 2. Line the Green Bin with a large bag. Paper, compostable or plastic bags are accepted. Before collection, tie the large bag inside the Green Bin.
In order to meet health and safety regulations, please ensure that all organics are bagged and nothing is loose in the Green Bin.
PLEASE NOTE: Only line one container - do not double bag your waste as the equipment used to open the bags can not typically open double bags of organics.
Paper, compostable or plastic bags can be used to line the green bin. The bags are recommended for odour control and for the health and safety of the collection crews, so please do not place your organics loose in your Green Bin. At the end of the composting process, plastic residue from the plastic bags will be removed from the finished product.
What is Accepted in the Green Bin?Food ProductsFruits and vegetables
Meat and Fish Products Includes bones, fat, skin and shellfish
Grain Products Includes pasta, bread, rice and cereal Baked goods or baking ingredients Includes cake, cookies, flour, sugar, spices, eggs and egg shells Dairy Products Includes milk, cheese and yogurt Other food products Includes candy and confectionary, coffee grounds, coffee filters and tea bags Paper Products Includes paper towels, facial tissue, muffin paper, microwave popcorn bags and paper candy wrappers Note: the following paper products are recyclable and are best placed in the Blue Box, but if they are heavily soiled with food they are accepted in the Green Bin program. Soiled paper plates and cups, boxboard and cardboard (pizza boxes), flour and sugar bags, moulded pulp trays (egg cartons & take-out trays), newspaper, polycoat containers (ice cream containers) and kraft paper (meat wrap) Personal Hygiene Includes diapers, sanitary products, incontinence products, nail clippings and hair Pet Waste Includes kitty litter, dog waste, pet bedding and fur, feathers, pet food and bird seed Other Includes small amounts of shredded paper, houseplants including soil, flowers (dried and fresh cut) and sawdust (wood sources only - not pressure treated. No sawdust from melamine, composite wood, particle board, etc. will be accepted). What's Not Accepted in the Green Bin?Items that are not compostable or may contain composite synthetic materials are not accepted in the Green Bin program. Examples of these include:
Artificial Flowers & Plants Ashes Baby Wipes Candles Carpet & Rugs Cigarette Butts Clothing, Leather & Textiles Corks Cotton Balls, Ear Cleaners & Makeup Removal Pads Dead Animals Disposable Mop Sheets Dryer Lint Dryer Sheets Foil Gum Lint Milk Bags Popsicle Sticks Styrofoam Tissue Paper for Gift Bags Plastic Wrap & Baggies Wax Paper Wood Toothpicks Vacuum Cleaner Bags & Contents Yard Waste Green Bin CollectionThe nine local municipalities in York Region are responsible for providing residents with Green Bin containers as well as the collection of your Green Bin. For details regarding the Green Bin containers or your local municipal collection program, please click on one of the following links:
Contact UsQuestions?
For more information please e-mail us at: greenbin@york.ca or call York Region at 1-877-464-9675 or (905) 895-1200 and press 3 for waste management information.
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