Tips
- The cart should be used for anything that rots
- The cart’s primary intent is to capture food waste
- Meat, bones, egg shells, peelings, left overs, crumbs, coffee grinds, tea leaves are all examples of what can be put in the green organics cart
- Soiled paper products also go in the green cart – e.g. pizza boxes, paper towel, facial tissue, paper plates
- If at the end of the week you still have room in your green cart, you can throw in leaves, dead plants, branches (as long as the lid closes)
- Grass clipping should be left on the lawn as much as possible.
- Line your cart with newspaper for a quick and inexpensive solution to items sticking or freezing to the sides of your cart.
- Trap wet waste in paper towel, newspaper, paper bags or cereal boxes to avoid a mess.
- Minimize odours by freezing meat, fish and other odorous items until collection day.
- Clean out your fridge close to your organics collection day.
- Use bags to collect organic waste, but make sure they are certified compostable. Biodegradable and plastic bags cannot be placed in your green organics cart.
- Layer wet and dry waste to help absorb excess moisture and prevent items freezing to the cart in winter.
- Control flies and bugs by spreading dish soap around the lip of your cart.
- Let the waste in your cart rest because pressing it down tightly may prevent items from emptying during collection.
- Store your cart in a dry place as rain and snow allow water to collect inside the cart which can cause damage or hinder emptying.
- Pull your cart to the curb (instead of pushing it) to prevent snow or debris from gathering in front of the cart and making it difficult to collect.
- Make your cart accessible so staff can easily get to it on collection day. Make sure there is an arm’s length of clearance on all sides of the cart.
What should go in the green organics cart?
How best to use the green organics cart?