Seasonal Tips - Green Bin

There are many tips to keep your Green Bin working for you! 

Winter Tips

• Use a piece of cardboard, newspaper, or fibre egg carton to line the bottom of your Green Bin, this will prevent the food waste from freezing/sticking to the bottom. 
• Drain liquids from your food waste prior to placing in the Green Bin. 
• Where possible, try to set out your Green Bin the morning of collection (by 6 a.m.) to avoid materials freezing to the bin. 
• Don't place your Green Bin on a snowbank. Be sure to place the Green Bin on a cleared, level area on your property along with street. 

Spring Tips

• After the winter, spring is a great time to rinse/clean your Green Bin. You can use water with vinegar, or even sprinkle with baking soda and rinse with water to remove any odours. 

Summer Tips

• Set out the Green Bin every week especially in warm temperatures. 
• Keep the Green Bin lid closed to keep pests out and odours in. 
• Keep the Green Bin clean with regular rinsing, just as you would with the garbage bin. 

Fall Tips

• After the summer heat, the fall is a great time to give the Green Bin a good cleaning/rinsing prior to the winter. 
• Remember only food waste in the Green Bin - yard waste is not acceptable. 
• Although pumpkins are food, the EWSWA prefers that pumpkins go out with yard waste collection. Pumpkins turn into the wonderful Garden Gold Compost. 

Miscellaneous Tips

• When placing the Green Bin at the curb, remember "Handles to the house, arrows to the street". The arrows on the lid should always point to the street. 
• Drain liquids from food waste (e.g. liquid from pickles)
• If placing any fats, oils, grease (FOG) in the Green Bin, put the fats, oils, grease in a paper cup, and then place in the fridge/freezer to harden, prior to placing in the Green Bin. Only solid fats, oils, grease should be placed in the Green Bin. 
• Remember compostable bags are designed to decompose, so don't stockpile or overbuy.