Organics collection

starts May 2012!

For all residents who

receive curbside garbage

collection from the

Municipality of North

Cowichan.

Neighbouring areas that have

implemented kitchen organics collection

reduced their average household

garbage by 40 to 50%.

Kitchen organics are processed into

compost at a local licenced facility in

Nanaimo instead of going to a landfill in

Washington where they produce harmful

greenhouse gases and leachate.

Complements home composting by

accepting many unsuitable materials:

cooked food, meat, fish, bones, baked

goods, food soiled and waxed paper

food packaging, such as gable top milk

cartons and fast food cups.

Tipping fees for kitchen organics are

lower than those for garbage. By

diverting kitchen organics & recyclables,

you help keep the curbside collection

service affordable for the future.

Kitchen Organics Collection WHY?

Why add Kitchen Organics to Curbside Collection?

Kitchen Organics Collection � HOW? How to get started with the Kitchen Organics Collection .

Kitchen Organics start�up kits will be delivered in April 2012 to

all residences that receive curbside service for the Municipality

of North Cowichan.

Start�up kits consist of:

• 46�litre Green Bin

• 7�litre Kitchen

Container

• 4�page Program Guide

• Decal listing acceptable

and unacceptable

materials

• Sample certified

compostable bags

Start collecting kitchen organics one week

before your first scheduled collection day.

Remember: weekly kitchen organics

collection begins in May 2012 when your

new collection schedule takes effect.

Kitchen Organics Collection � HOW? How the Organic Collection Program schedule will work.

Kitchen Organics will be collected weekly from your green bin.

One container the remaining mainly dry garbage will be

collected every two weeks.

Week 1: Kitchen Organics

& Recycling

Week 2: Kitchen Organics

& Garbage

Week 3: Kitchen Organics

& Recycling

Week 4: Kitchen Organics

& Garbage

Kitchen Organics and garbage will be

collected using “split�packer” trucks.

These have two compartments to keep

materials separated; no additional trucks

or labour is required to collect Kitchen

Organics!

Soiled Paper/Paper Packaging:

⇒ Gable top juice and soy milk cartons

(plastic spout removed)

⇒ Ice cream cartons (wax coated)

⇒ Milk and cream cartons

⇒ Paper cups and plates

⇒ Paper fast food packaging

⇒ Paper towels, napkins, tissues

⇒ Parchment paper

⇒ Pizza boxes

⇒ Soiled and waxed cardboard

⇒ Waxed paper

Other:

⇒ Houseplants, cut or dried flowers

⇒ Certified compostable bags;

look for one of these logos:

What goes in the

Green Bin?

Food Waste including:

⇒ Baked goods

⇒ Baking ingredients

⇒ Bones

⇒ Bread, cereal, grains

⇒ Butter, cheese,

mayonnaise

⇒ Candy

⇒ Coffee grounds, filter

⇒ Cooked food, leftovers

⇒ Egg shells

⇒ Fish, seafood

⇒ Fruit & vegetable scraps

⇒ Meat, poultry

⇒ Nuts and shells

⇒ Pasta, rice

⇒ Tea bags

• Non-compostable plastics

(e.g. plastic grocery bags)

• Plastic bags labelled as:

• "biodegradable",

• "degradable", or

• "oxo-degradable"

Lining your

Containers

• Newspaper

• Paper bags

• Certified compostable bags

look for one of these logos:

You are not required to line your containers with a bag; however if you choose to line your containers it must be with a material that breaks down at the composting facility.

Where to buy compostable bags:

• 49th Parallel Grocery

• Canadian Tire

• Chemainus Foods

• Chemainus Health Food Store

• The Community Farm Store

• Home Hardware

• London Drugs

• Real Canadian Superstore

• Rona

• Safeway

• Shoppers Drug Mart

• The Home Depot

• Thrifty Foods

• Walmart

Garbage, such as:

• Baby wipes

• Candy wrappers

• Cigarettes and butts

• Cotton balls and swabs

• Dental floss

• Diapers, incontinence products

• Dryer sheets and lint

• Feminine hygiene products

• Foil butter wrappers

• Hair, wool, feathers

• Make-up remover pads

• Pet waste and cat litter (double-bag)

• Polystyrene (“Styrofoam”) packaging

(e.g. meat trays, “to go” containers)

• Rubber bands

• Textiles

• Twist ties

• Vacuum bags

Non-compostable bags, such as:

• “Biodegradable” bags

• “Degradable” bags

• “Oxo-degradable” bags

• Plastic bags

What DOES NOT go in

the Green Bin?

Curbside Recyclables:

• Aluminum cans, foil &

containers

• Plastic bags

• Plastic bottles &

containers

• Plastic or cling wrap

• Plastic straws, plates

& utensils

• Tin cans & lids

Depot Recyclables:

• Glass jars

• Vegetable oil

• White “styrofoam”

• Wood waste

• Yard & garden waste

Refundable Recyclables:

• Glass beverage bottles

• Plastic beverage bottles

• Rectangular Tetra Packs

(e.g. juice boxes, aseptic

beverage containers)

• Soda & beer cans

Helpful Tips:

⇒ To check if paper food packaging is wax-coated, try to rip it—if

it rips easily, and you don’t see a plas�c liner, it is acceptable.

⇒ Put food waste into the kitchen container immediately to avoid

a rac�ng insects.

⇒ Frequently transfer waste to your green bin.

⇒ Keep the lids of both containers �ghtly closed.

⇒ Clean frequently with hot water and mild biodegradable

detergent especially during hot weather. Kitchen containers

are also safe to be cleaned in the dishwasher.

⇒ Store your green bin with your garbage containers or in

another shady spot secure from animals.

⇒ Put larger soiled paper products such as pizza boxes directly

into your green bin.

⇒ Roll your green bin to the curbside every week even if it is not

full. Please do not leave your bin at the curb overnight.

⇒ Line the bo om of your kitchen container with a paper towel

and your green bin with newspaper to absorb moisture and

odours. Remember, these materials are accepted in the

program.

⇒ Store meat and fish waste in your freezer un�l collec�on day.

⇒ Sprinkle vinegar, baking soda, garden lime, or biodegradable

laundry detergent in your kitchen container and green bin to

deodorize them.