Green and Food Residue

SCHEDULE

From April to November, the collection of organic materials will be offered weekly, as follows. You will be able to send discarded green and food residue off for composting.

South sector of Highway 20: Mondays as of 7 a.m.
North sector of Highway 20: Wednesdays as of 7 a.m.

From December to March, the collection is offered once a month.

Consult the Collection Calendar for details.

OVERLOOKED BIN OR BAG?

Make sure collection instructions were followed: day and time, bin position, accepted container, container weight, accepted materials, etc. If all instructions were followed, report the situation to Public Works the same evening after 7 p.m. or before 10:30 a.m. the next day.
Requests received after 10:30 a.m. the day following the collection will not be processed.

WHAT IS GREEN RESIDUE?

All organic garden waste, including grass clippings and leaves.

Grasscycling and backyard composting are the best cost-effective options to help reduce material at the source, without the need to transport it to a treatment centre.

ACCEPTED MATERIALS

Food (Kitchen) Residue (raw, cooked or spoiled)

Meat and poultry (including skin, fat and bones)
Fish and seafood (including shells, skin and bones)
Dairy products
Fruits and vegetables
Bread, pasta, rice and other cereal products
Coffee grinds and tea bags
Eggs and shells
Nuts and shells
Vegetable oils and fats (small amounts)
Herbs, spices, sauces and dressings
Sweets and snacks
Meal leftovers (food scraps)
Corn cobs

Green Residue

Garden residue (flowers, plants, weeds)
Grass clippings and other plants
Leaves, twigs, evergreen needles, sawdust, straw
Shrub roots and household plants

Other residue material

Non-waxed paper plates
Paper (clean or soiled): tissue paper, paper towels, paper napkins, newspapers, muffin liners
Compostable plates, bowls, utensils and toothpicks
Animal food
Human or animal hair, feathers
Cold ashes produced by burning untreated wood

REFUSED MATERIALS

Plastic bags (regular, biodegradable or compostable)
Recyclable materials
Household hazardous waste
Animal feces, used pet litter and pads
Diapers, incontinence pants, sanitary napkins and tampons, cotton swabs, dental floss
Fabrics and clothing, shoes
Dryer lint, dust, wax
Dead animals (wild or pets)
Waxed paper or styrofoam
Wood and ceramic
Branches
Cigarette butts
Chewing gum
Branches, soil, rocks and sand

IMPORTANT: Blue bins will not be collected during green and food residue collections due to the risk of cross contamination between recyclable materials and traces of organic residue remaining inside the bin. If a recycling load contains contaminated material, the load cannot be recycled.

COLLECTIONS

orange bins

Consult the Collection Calendar for details.

Green residue must be placed in cardboard boxes, bins (except the blue bin) or paper bags.
Neither plastic bags or blue bins, nor branches will be collected.
Warning! Do not put food residue in paper bags or cardboard boxes.
Food residue MUST be placed in a bin size 40 litres or more, WITH A COMPLETELY CLOSED LID.
Green and food residue can be mixed together on condition that it is put in a bin with a lid.

To properly manage food residue

The use of paper bags or newspaper is convenient for placing food in the bin used to collect your green residue because the paper:

absorbs moisture
minimizes odours
contains insects that may be present in the organic matter
prevents residue from sticking to the surface of the bin
is useful for freezing residue during the hottest months of the year

Use a simple origami technique

The origami or kitchen catcher made with newspaper is an easy and effective way to keep things clean when disposing of your organic matter! Click here to learn more (PDF)