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Green Bin Program
Green Bin Program

The Green Bin Program collects organic waste (fruit and vegetables scraps, paper towels, coffee grinds, etc.) and turns it into compost.

The Green Bin Program currently services 510,000 single-family households. After a successful pilot program in 30 multi-unit residential buildings, the Green Bin Program is now being rolled out to 5,000 apartments, condos and co-op buildings.

           
   

Green Bins and kitchen containers can be purchased at any one of 33 Home Hardware stores in the City of Toronto, at City of Toronto Container Pick-up Locations or at a Community Environment Day.

 

What's new
Green Bin is a success: The facts about the program
Toronto's Green Bin Program is one of the most successful waste diversion programs in North America. Our unique composting technology allows everything from table scraps to pet waste to be turned into compost. The City needs residents' continued participation. Learn the facts.

More useful Green Bin program information:

What amount of my household garbage could be Green Bin material?
About one-third, or 30%, of your household garbage is organic material - material that can be processed into compost for use on farms, parklands and gardens instead of being sent to landfill. The purpose of the Green Bin Program is to divert these organic materials from landfill and turn them into compost. Given the City’s goal of striving for 70% diversion of waste from landfill, reducing our volume of garbage by separating out organics to be processed as a beneficial resource, is the right thing to do.

Questioning the value of the Green Bin program? (PDF)

Why did the City introduce the Green Bin program?

How Green Bin organics contribute to the City’s 2008 overall diversion rate?

Questions and answers about the program

What goes in the bin v.s. what doesn’t

How organics are processed – what is removed as residue and what continues on to become finished compost

Green Bin organics go full circle (PDF) – what goes in your bin could end up back in your garden as compost to improve soil conditions

How to use compost?


Green Bin collection is weekly – check your full collection schedule

Think your Green Bin material is being mixed with garbage when collected? It’s not true.

Homeowners: need to replace your bins or get additional ones?

How can I participate in my multi-unit building’s Green Bin program?

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...For more information about the processing of organics
Please view the presentation The Green Bin Program . from curb to compost and check out this ad which shows how the Green Bin goes full circle (PDF).

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City Council approves plan for two new organic processing facilities within Toronto
Due to strong participation in the Green Bin Program and the plan to expand this organics collection program to more users, City Council, at its June 2007 meeting, approved building and siting two new facilities to process Green Bin organic material. Each facility will be capable of processing 55,000 tonnes of organic material bringing the City’s processing capacity within city borders up to 110,000 tonnes a year. Find out more about the process, including the study, reports and public consultation that led to this decision. For more information about the processing of organics, please view the presentation The Green Bin Program … from curb to compost.

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Slide show picture of Green Bins Using the Green Bin is easy!
Watch our video and slide show
Photo of new collection container Green Bin containers
Learn more ...
Siting new organic processing facilities Siting new organic processing facilities
Learn more...
Compost in hand Resident news
Home Composting program

Learn more
Green Bin goes full circle
Green Bin Information Card
Organics processing - "From curb to compost"
Think your green bin material is mixed with garbage on collection day?
Waste Diversion Task Force 2010
Why did the City launch the Green Bin program?
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