Green bin
Encyclopedia
A green bin is a short, rigid container used to collect biodegradable
waste or compostable materials as a means to divert waste from landfill
s. In some localities green bins are also used to contain unsorted municipal waste. The bins are designed and manufactured by Norseman Environmental (an ORBIS brand), a manufacturer of recycling and organic waste containers in North America.
The program's purpose is to reduce the amount of waste shipped to landfills by turning organic 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
collecting, and composts it in 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.
. Many residents willingly cooperate with the programs.
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:
.
Another common colour in the UK for garden waste collection is a brown bin.
Some councils collect food waste in a separate contrainer for example, for anaerobic digestion or mixed with garden waste in the wheelie bin, where they go to an in vessel composter. In both cases a kitchen caddy, a 7 litre tub is provided by the council, with cornstarch liners and when full are emptied into a small curbside box or into the garden waste bin.
Biodegradation
Biodegradation or biotic degradation or biotic decomposition is the chemical dissolution of materials by bacteria or other biological means...
waste or compostable materials as a means to divert waste from landfill
Landfill
A landfill site , is a site for the disposal of waste materials by burial and is the oldest form of waste treatment...
s. In some localities green bins are also used to contain unsorted municipal waste. The bins are designed and manufactured by Norseman Environmental (an ORBIS brand), a manufacturer of recycling and organic waste containers in North America.
The program's purpose is to reduce the amount of waste shipped to landfills by turning organic waste into compost
Compost
Compost is organic matter that has been decomposed and recycled as a fertilizer and soil amendment. Compost is a key ingredient in organic farming. At its most essential, the process of composting requires simply piling up waste outdoors and waiting for the materials to break down from anywhere...
. 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
Waste
Waste is unwanted or useless materials. In biology, waste is any of the many unwanted substances or toxins that are expelled from living organisms, metabolic waste; such as urea, sweat or feces. Litter is waste which has been disposed of improperly...
and recycling
Recycling
Recycling is processing used materials into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution and water pollution by reducing the need for "conventional" waste disposal, and lower greenhouse...
collecting, and composts it in 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.
Canada
The following municipalities have implemented a Green Bin program:- The Halifax Regional Municipality has had Green Bin collection in urban areas since 1998.
- Toronto, OntarioTorontoToronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
began its program in the EtobicokeEtobicoke, OntarioEtobicoke is a dissolved municipality located within the current city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Comprising the western section of the current city, it had an official population of 338,117 as measured by the 2001 Census and 334,491 people as of the 2006 Census. While it only contains 13% of...
area in 2002, and expanded it in subsequent years until the entire city was covered in 2005. - Durham Region, Ontario's Green Bin program initially began with ScugogScugog, OntarioScugog is a township in the Regional Municipality of Durham, south-central Ontario, Canada. A smaller Scugog Township was also a historic municipality and geographic township prior to the amalgamation that formed the current municipality.-History:...
, UxbridgeUxbridge, OntarioUxbridge is a township in south-central Ontario, Canada, in the Regional Municipality of Durham, in the Greater Toronto Area.The main centre in the township is the namesake community of Uxbridge...
, BrockBrock, OntarioBrock is a township in the Regional Municipality of Durham, Ontario, Canada. Brock Township is also a former municipality and geographic township prior to the amalgamation that formed the current municipality.-History:...
and ClaringtonClarington, OntarioClarington is a municipality in Ontario, Canada in the Regional Municipality of Durham. It took its present name in 1994 after having been known as the Town of Newcastle from 1974-93. The name change was made to alleviate long-standing confusion between the municipality as a whole and the included...
, but has since been expanded to all municipalities in the Region. - Peel Region, Ontario's Green Bin program began on April 2, 2007.
- York Region, OntarioRegional Municipality of York, OntarioThe Regional Municipality of York, also called York Region, is a regional municipality in Southern Ontario, Canada, between Lake Simcoe and Toronto. It replaced the former York County in 1971, and is part of the Greater Toronto Area and the inner ring of the Golden Horseshoe...
has implemented a Green Bin program throughout the region as of September 17, 2007. The town of MarkhamMarkham, OntarioMarkham is a town in the Regional Municipality of York, located within the Greater Toronto Area of Southern Ontario, Canada. The population was 261,573 at the 2006 Canadian census...
, the first York Region municipality to implement the program, began its Green Bin collection program as part of its "Mission Green" in the fall of 2004 with implementation to 12,500 single-family residences. "Mission Green" is Markham's plan to divert 70% of its waste from landfill. In July 2005, the program was expanded city-wide. - Hamilton, OntarioHamilton, OntarioHamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
had originally implemented it's "Green Bin" program to houses and is the first city to recently spread the project to apartmentApartmentAn apartment or flat is a self-contained housing unit that occupies only part of a building...
buildings and complexes to reduce waste by 35% to ease the garbage in Hamilton's only operational landfill. - Dufferin County's Green Bin program has been in full operation since 2007.
- Ottawa, Ontario has a Green Bin program in operation since January 2010, with service to apartments and multi-residential units to follow.
Compliance
Green bin programs have thus far been optional for residents excluding those in Hamilton, OntarioHamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
. Many residents willingly cooperate with the programs.
- In Toronto, as of March 2006, the program was diverting 100,000 tonnes from landfill each year.
- 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.
- In Durham Region, the introduction of the Green Bin in July 2006, coupled with an increase in pickup frequency for other recycleables, has led to a 39% decrease on tonnage sent to landfill compared to July 2005.
- In Simcoe County, the introduction of the Green Bin on Sept 29th, 2008 to 16 municipalities, coupled with the weekly pickup for other recycleables, 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.
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:
- GarbageWasteWaste is unwanted or useless materials. In biology, waste is any of the many unwanted substances or toxins that are expelled from living organisms, metabolic waste; such as urea, sweat or feces. Litter is waste which has been disposed of improperly...
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 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 the black bag in response to the Landfill DirectiveLandfill Directive
The Landfill Directive, more formally Council Directive 1999/31/EC of 26 April 1999 on the landfill of waste, is a European Union directive issued by the European Union to be implemented by its member states....
.
Another common colour in the UK for garden waste collection is a brown bin.
Some councils collect food waste in a separate contrainer for example, for anaerobic digestion or mixed with garden waste in the wheelie bin, where they go to an in vessel composter. In both cases a kitchen caddy, a 7 litre tub is provided by the council, with cornstarch liners and when full are emptied into a small curbside box or into the garden waste bin.
United States
Some USA cities have begun Green Bin programs under various names, including Seattle and San Francisco.See also
- Blue Box (container)
- Blue bagBlue bagA blue bag is a blue coloured, semi-transparent bag for waste, mandated for use in some localities for refuse or for certain specific types of refuse: the distinguishing color serves to assist in recycling programs. Typically, it would be used for glass, plastic or polyethylene content.-Chicago,...
- materials vary depending on the municipality - Recycling bins - boxes with holes to allow users to drop in material for recycling
- Composting
- Mechanical biological treatmentMechanical biological treatmentA mechanical biological treatment system is a type of waste processing facility that combines a sorting facility with a form of biological treatment such as composting or anaerobic digestion...