Green bin

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Green bins being emptied in Dublin, Ireland Green bin collection in Dublin.jpg
Green bins being emptied in Dublin, Ireland

A green bin is a large, movable, rigid plastic or metal container that contains biodegradable waste or compostable materials as a means to divert waste from landfills. In some local authorities, green bins are also used to contain unsorted municipal solid waste.

Contents

The program's purpose is to reduce the amount of waste shipped to landfills by recycling biodegradable waste into compost. The programs collect kitchen and related organic waste (typically including soiled paper products, pet waste, sawdust, and similar items) using a waist-high green curbside container, for which the programs are named. The municipality picks up the waste on a regular basis along with other garbage and recycling collections, and composts it at an industrial composting facility. While it is true that home composting can also serve this purpose, the green bin programs are viewed as being more convenient and more inclusive of source materials.

What goes in a green bin

A green bin, typically designated for organic waste, plays a role in waste management and environmental sustainability. It is intended for the disposal of biodegradable materials such as food scraps, food-soiled paper, yard waste, and other biodegradable substances. To be specific, suitable items include fruit and vegetable peels, coffee grounds, eggshells, yard trimmings, coffee filters, napkins, and small amounts of food waste. [1] When these organic materials are properly disposed of in a green bin, they undergo composting, a natural process that transforms them into nutrient-rich compost. This compost can then be used to enrich soil, promote plant growth, and reduce the need for chemical fertilizers. Compost made of biodegradable materials create a healthy foundation to plant additional greens.

Guidelines for maintaining a cleaner green bin

When utilizing a green bin, there are a few common practices that help maintain the bin to remain cleaner and prevent lingering odors. [2] The first recommendation is to keep the container in the shade, as heat increases the smell of food waste. Secondly, lining the bottom of the pin with backyard waste and paper bags before placing it in food waste comes with two benefits. The food won't stick to the bottom of the bin allowing for more time to rot and the layer serves as an absorber for excess moisture. An additional step that can be followed prior to placing food waste onto the layer, is wrapping the food with newspaper or other compostable paper. There is also the option to hose down the container to tackle down any lingering odors.   

What happens to food waste in landfills

Placing items in the proper bins limits the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. When food waste sits in landfills, the common assumption is food will decompose naturally, however, that is not the case. Rather, when the food rots it produces a greenhouse gas, methane. It is estimated that food waste equates "for 58% of landfill methane emissions to the atmosphere." [3] By diverting organic waste from landfills, the environmental impact of methane gas emissions is minimized. In essence, utilization of green bins fosters environmental health and reducing the carbon footprint associated with traditional waste disposal methods.

Green bins by country

Canada

The following municipalities have implemented a Green Bin program:

A Green Bin in Toronto, Ontario. Toronto Green Bin.jpg
A Green Bin in Toronto, Ontario.

Compliance

Green bin programs have thus far been optional for residents excluding those in Hamilton, Ontario. Many residents willingly cooperate with the programs.

  • In Toronto, as of March 2006, the program was diverting 100,000 tonnes from landfill each year. [18]
  • In Markham, over 90% of residents put out green bins and blue boxes each week. Including other recycling programs, 65% of waste is being diverted from landfill. [19]
  • In Durham Region, the introduction of the Green Bin in July 2006, coupled with an increase in pickup frequency for other recyclables, has led to a 39% decrease on tonnage sent to landfill compared to July 2005. [20]
  • In Simcoe County, the introduction of the Green Bin on Sept 29th, 2008 to 16 municipalities, coupled with the weekly pickup for other recyclables, has led to a 50% diversion rate during the initial weeks of the program. This is an increase of approximately 20% over the same period last year. [21]

In all programs, some residents perceive an increase in workload related to garbage handling, and object to the program on that basis. In Durham Region, some residents object to a requirement to use biodegradable liner bags, which adds a cost to the home-owner that does not exist in Toronto. The York Region and Toronto Green Bin programs allow residents to use regular plastic grocery sacks as liner bags.

The following mechanisms are typically used to encourage compliance:

  • Garbage collection is typically performed every second week.
  • The number of garbage bags allowed per collection is frequently restricted (e.g. three bags per pick up in Markham and four bags per pick-up in Durham Region).
  • The use of clear garbage bags is sometimes mandated, in order to allow collection staff to determine if recyclable material is being thrown out.

United Kingdom

Green Bin recycling programmes are now common in the UK. Green Bins have been rolled out over the past 10 years to reduce the quantities of biodegradable waste contained in a black bin bag in response to the Landfill Directive. Another common colour in the UK for garden waste collection is a brown wheelie bin. Some councils collect food waste in a separate container for example, for anaerobic digestion or mixed with garden waste in the wheelie bin, where they go to an in vessel composting facility. In both cases a kitchen caddy, a 7-litre plastic box, is provided by the council, with compostable cornstarch liners and, when full, are emptied into a small kerbside box or into the garden waste bin. In Fife, Scotland, the green bin is normal sized and used to collect tins and plastics.

United States

Some US cities have begun Green Bin programs under various names, including Seattle and San Francisco. [22] [23]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Curbside Organic Waste Recycling Guide" (PDF).
  2. ↑ "Keep Your Green Bin Clean".
  3. ↑ "Sustainable Management of Food Basics". 11 August 2015.
  4. ↑ "Beaumont's Waste Program". Beaumont, AB. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
  5. ↑ Smith, Madeline (Apr 9, 2020). "Why the city isn't switching to weekly green bin pickup during COVID-19". Calgary Herald. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
  6. ↑ Jamieson, Nikki (December 1, 2020). "Needed updates passed for Coaldale waste bylaw". Sunny South News. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
  7. ↑ Bench, Allison (March 14, 2021). "What you need to know as Edmonton begins rollout of new garbage cart system - Edmonton". Global News. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
  8. ↑ Myroon, Alex (5 November 2018). "New organics collection schedule now in effect in Fort Sask". FortSaskOnline.com. Archived from the original on Jul 26, 2021. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
  9. ↑ Gunn, Connor (Jun 3, 2021). "Curbside Organics program starting in Lethbridge in 2023". Lethbridge News Now. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
  10. ↑ "Garbage, Recycling and Organics". Town of Morinville. 2020-07-16. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
  11. ↑ "Green Cart Recycling". City of Richmond BC. Archived from the original on May 17, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Organics". Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
  13. ↑ "Green Organics Cart". City of St. Albert. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
  14. ↑ Morey, Lindsay (Apr 13, 2021). "10-year waste plan in the works". Sherwood Park News. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
  15. ↑ "Green bins". City of Vancouver.
  16. ↑ Carmichael, Harold (13 June 2009). "Green is the new blue". Sudbury Star. Postmedia. Archived from the original on 6 August 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  17. ↑ "Waste Collection & Disposal". Town of Taber. Archived from the original on 2021-07-26. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
  18. ↑ "Green Bin Newsletter" (PDF). City of Toronto. March–April 2006.
  19. ↑ "Mission Green Newsletter" (PDF). Town of Markham. April 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-10-07.
  20. ↑ Hatfield, Erin (2006-09-22). "Diversion reaches 50 per cent". Durham Region News. Retrieved 2006-09-30.[ dead link ]
  21. ↑ Wells, Kevin (2008-11-01). "Managing Your Waste (Newsletter)". County of Simcoe.
  22. ↑ "Food & Yard Waste at Your House". Seattle.gov. Retrieved 2011-09-12.
  23. ↑ "Recology SF • San Francisco Garbage Collection Services • San Francisco Recycling • San Francisco Junk Pickup • Sunset Scavenger • Golden Gate Disposal". Sunsetscavenger.com. Retrieved 2011-09-12.
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