durham region’s green bin program - compost council of canada
TRANSCRIPT
Our Community
• 580,000 residents
• Just East of Toronto
Durham Region Works Department
Region of Durham
A Phased in Approach
Phase 1 (Green Area)• 130,000 residents• 45,000 households
Phase 2 (White Area)• 450,000 residents• 135,000 households
LAKE SIMCOE
LAKE ONTARIO Durham Region Works Department
Green Bin Program Goals
Goals• Introduce Region-wide
kitchen food waste composting
• Divert food waste from landfill
Durham Region Works Department
Impact on Residents
• Separate kitchen food waste from garbage
• Use biodegradable liner bags in the Green Bin
• Maintained weekly collection of food waste
• Biweekly garbage collection
Durham Region Works Department
Challenges
• Get the message out to residents
• Deliver the Green Bin kits
• Make it happen
Durham Region Works Department
Green Bin Kits
• The Green Bin kits included the following items:– curbside Green Bin– kitchen Green Bin– package of 100 per cent biodegradable
kitchen liner bags– information magnet– promotional CD– waste survey– residential waste collection calendar– garbage bag tags
Durham Region Works Department
Kitchen Food Waste
• Fruits & vegetables• Cereals• Meat & bones• Plate scrapings• Bread & baking• Dairy products
Durham Region Works Department
Paper Fibres
• Coffee filters• Tea bags• Paper egg cartons• Fast food drink trays• Soiled paper towels
Durham Region Works Department
What is NOT Included
• Diapers• Sanitary products• Kitty litter• Animal wastes• Food packaging
materials• Plastic bags
Durham Region Works Department
Biodegradable Liner Bags
• Residents to use 100 per cent biodegradable kitchen liner bags
• No plastic bags
Durham Region Works Department
Informing Residents
• Newspaper Ads• Radio Messages
• Television Interviews• Movie Theatre Ads
• Education• Displays at Public Events
• Waste Information Calendars• Water Bill Inserts
Durham Region Works Department
Newspaper Ads
• Biweekly ads • Full colour• Local
community newspapers
• Repeat ads
Durham Region Works Department
Radio Messages & Television Interviews
• All local radio & television stations
Durham Region Works Department
Education
• Public information sessions, all municipalities• Partnership with hosting municipalities • School presentations
• (150 schools, potentially 400 students per week)
• School tours• Approx. 900 students
per month
Durham Region Works Department
Displays
• Libraries• Businesses• Fall fairs• Malls• Green Bin
Launch
Durham Region Works Department
Waste Collection Calendars
• Delivered to each home, inside the Green Bin kits
• Full explanation of new services
• Colourful• Waste collection
guideDurham Region Works Department
Other Promotional Material
• Water bill inserts• Banner displays at
events• Fact cards at events• Articles in Durham
Works• Information on website Kitchen Food Waste
Composting Works
Divert your kitchen food waste from landfill disposal.
What goes in my
Food Waste
Paper Fibres
Fruits, vegetables, table scraps, meat, fish, dairy products, fat, bread, rice, pasta, bones, coffee grounds, filters, tea bags and eggshells
Paper egg cartons, fast food drink trays, waxed paper food cartons, paper plates & cups, soiled paper towels, tissues and serviettes
Durham Region Works Department
Food Waste Collection Trucks
• Co-collection vehicles• Food waste and garbage collected at
same time• Split into two
separate compartments by a vertical wall
Durham Region Works Department
Composting Facility
• Food waste is collected and taken to this composting facility
• Indoor composting takes about 21 days
• Capacity of 25,000 tonnes per year
Durham Region Works Department
Other Major Changes
• Biweekly garbage collection• Reduced bag limits
to 4 bags every two weeks
• Garbage bag tags• Weekly Blue Box
recycling collectionDurham Region Works Department
Food Waste Tonnages Collected
Ajax
Pickering
Oshawa
Whitby
Total
July
365 tonnes
294 tonnes
443 tonnes
465 tonnes
1,567 tonnes
August
472 tonnes
419 tonnes
561 tonnes
588 tonnes
2,040 tonnesDurham Region Works Department
What Worked
• Encouraged residents to participate• Gave residents timely information• Constantly promoted program• Got political support• Used media to deliver the message• Retailers have biodegradable liner bags• Residents are using the liner bags
Durham Region Works Department
What Worked (cont’d)
• Changed garbage collection to every two weeks
• Changed Blue Box recycling collection to weekly
• Started weekly Green Bin composting collection
• All major collection changes made at same time
Durham Region Works Department
What Didn’t Work
• Delivery took longer than anticipated• Contractor couldn’t finish the clean up• 155,000 calls at our call centre• High volume of Blue Box sales• Biodegradable liner bag inventory
shortages at local retailers
Durham Region Works Department
Lessons Learned
• Start weekly Green Bin and biweekly garbage at the same time
• Leave adequate time between Green Bin delivery and program start date
• Make sure local retailers have inventory of liner bags
• Expect high volumes of calls, even though residents are informed with extensive promotional & educational material
Durham Region Works Department