City of Peterborough Marks One-Year Anniversary of Green Bin Program

The City of Peterborough’s Green Bin program for curbside collection of household organic waste marked its first anniversary Thursday.

(from left to right) Councillor Alex Bierk, Councillor Joy LaChica, Mayor Jeff Leal and Councillor Gary Baldwin. The bins are able to keep pests and other animals from being rummaging through. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Over 28,000 households participated in the waste diversion service.

In the past year, more than 6,000 tonnes of organics have been diverted from the City-County landfill, resulting in an overall waste diversion rate of 76 per cent.

“The Green Bin program is a critical way for our municipality to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and divert waste from the landfill, helping to extend its life,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “I thank Peterborough residents who have overwhelmingly adopted this program over the past year: your dedication has made it a success. By effectively sorting organic waste, including removing food packaging and plastics, our residents can ensure that our composting facility is producing a high-quality end product.”

To mark the anniversary of the service, the City is celebrating its success and sharing information on the need to continue being diligent about what gets put into the Green Bin to protect the compost created through the process.

Organic material is processed into compost through a series of steps, from weigh-in and mixing to the climate-controlled GORE bunkers to final screening at the organic waste processing facility on Bensfort Road.

Future phases of the program are expected to consider expanding service to include multi-residential and commercial participants.

The site operator manages the compost produced at the facility. Between May 1 and Nov. 30, a portion of compost is available to residents for purchase at the City-County Landfill. The City’s Environmental Services division also coordinates compost donations to the City’s community gardens.

This project received $6.1 million in funding through the Government of Canada’s Low Carbon Economy Fund.

Green Bin sorting tips

• Remove any packaging or wrappers from food before disposal. Coffee pods may commonly be labelled as compostable, but cannot be processed at our facility.

• Only certified compostable/BPI bags are accepted – products that are labelled biodegradable may not be processed by our facility

• Yard waste which includes leaves and brush should be sorted separately for weekly pickup, April through November.

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Municipal Waste Association Awards City of Peterborough Promotion and Education Award

The City of Peterborough has received a Promotion and Education Award from the Municipal Waste Association for the community promotion and education tools that were used to support the rollout of the City’s new waste diversion initiatives announced on Friday.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The new measures were implemented on Halloween, including the Green Bin Source Separated Organics Program - GROW Peterborough, the requirement for clear garbage bags and the switch to every-other-week garbage collection, plus collection day changes for some households to equalize the daily collection routes each day.    

To help residents learn about the extensive changes, the City developed a Waste Management Guide/18-month calendar, a series of information sheets, door hangers, and streaming cards, and an extensive online communication strategy, including social media, digital signage, and the City’s website. 

“Congratulations to our outstanding team that worked to support our residents during this massive shift in waste management practices,” said Councillor Gary Baldwin.  From the communication planning, design, and implementation to front-line customer service, their commitment was exceptional. With the City achieving an overall waste diversion rate of 76 per cent from landfill, the results speak for themselves. Special thanks to City residents for their keen attention to detail and remarkable participation rate.”

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City Council to Consider Ceasing the Use of Garbage Cans For Curbside Collection Starting Oct. 31

Garbage containers could be a thing of the past as the idea is being proposed to City Council regarding waste collection by-law changes taking effect on Oct. 31.

Todd Willis, sanitation foreman tosses a garbage bag into the garbage truck. Bags can weigh anywhere and can exceed 45 lbs. in weight. Roughly 1,200 bags of garbage are collected by each truck daily. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The proposed change was brought up in a garbage demonstration related to the Waste Collection By-law by the City of Peterborough at the Municipal Operations Centre on Thursday morning.

The proposal will be considered at City Council’s General Committee meeting on Tuesday before going to the regular Council meeting to be considered for approval on Oct. 23.

The move was proposed to improve workplace health and safety for all sanitation workers. An average route for one truck results in 1,100 to 1,200 stops a day. Omitting garbage cans makes it easier for sanitation workers to get the garbage bags out of the cans according to the City.

Garbage collected outside containers allows collectors to see their contents while switching to clear bags.

“We’ve had workers get cut across the leg from glass or anything else sharp from garbage bags,” said Sean Adey, the City’s manager of parks, forestry and sanitation. “Some of our staff can get pricked by a needle and could contract HIV. We’ve had workers out for a few days to a few months because of it and it slows down our garbage collection.”

Over-piled bags, incorrect disposal of items, untied bags and overstuffed garbage bags are hazards that could pose threats to garbage workers. Photos courtesy of Sean Adey.

By-law changes already approved are switching to clear garbage bags, roughly 8,000 households having their waste collection day changed, introducing Green Waste Bins and garbage collection running every other week.

Households eligible for the Green Bin program are permitted four bags for garbage collection every other week on their respective collection day. The current limit is two lifts per week for collection for each household.

Bag weight limits are 30 pounds with up to three opaque privacy bags (up to 25 litres or 20 x 20 in. for each bag) can be put in each large clear garbage bag.

Businesses that use the garbage collection service are permitted 12 bags every other week.

Any downtown Business Improvement Area addresses will not shift to a bi-weekly schedule.

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Glad Canada Becomes City Sponsor For New Green Bin Service Rollout

Waste and food protection solutions company Glad is sponsoring the City of Peterborough’s rollout of its Green Bin service.

Photo courtesy of The City of Peterborough.

“Glad is committed to doing its part to help reduce waste through our partnership with the City of Peterborough on its new Green Bin program that will help divert food waste from landfill, a critical step toward to reducing methane gas,” said Chris Budinszky, Glad marketing director. “One of the biggest barriers to program success is early adoption and resident participation so our hope is that by providing free Glad samples and coupons all residents can participate from day 1.”

The Green Bins are receiving a package that contains the 2023/24 Waste Management Calendar and Guide plus detailed information on the City’s waste collection changes that start the week of Oct. 31:

• New weekly Green Bin collection service

• Every-other-week garbage collection

• Requirement to use clear bags for curbside garbage collection

Recycling collection remains on a weekly schedule.

As a result of the Glad sponsorship of the program rollout, the Green Bin kits will include:

• Samples of biodegradable bags that can be used as a liner in the Green Bin

• Samples of clear garbage bags

A Green Bin liner is not necessary for using the Green Bin; however, some residents may prefer to use a liner to help keep the Green Bin clean. If using a liner, it must a paper or compostable liner certified by BPI (the BPI logo will be on the packaging for the liner) according to a press release.

Other options to reduce moisture in the Green Bin include putting baking soda or shredded paper in the bottom of the container.

Residents can use the tool at peterborough.ca/MyCollectionDay to verify their waste collection day. Waste collection zones will be changing starting the week of Oct. 31 to re-balance the routes as a way to improve the reliability of the service and worker safety according to The City. Roughly 8,000 households will have their collection date shift with the change.

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City of Peterborough Launching Green Bin Program This Fall

Ahead of Earth Day on Saturday, the City of Peterborough is launching its new Green Bin program scheduled for Oct. 31, announced at Eastgate Park on Monday morning.

(from left to right) Councillor Alex Bierk, Councillor Joy LaChica, Mayor Jeff Leal and Councillor Gary Baldwin. The bins are able to keep pests and other animals from being rummaging through. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Councillor Gary Baldwin is the chair of the City’s waste management portfolio and says the new bins are going to be delivered ahead of the launch, scheduled for Oct. 31. On that day, Peterborough is switching garbage collection to every two weeks and clear bags must be used. Green Bin collection occurs on alternate weeks from garbage according to Baldwin.

“Earth Day is a great reminder that we are all responsible for environmental stewardship,” he said. “I’m really proud that Peterborough is putting the environment front and centre with upcoming changes to waste management.”

The Green Bins are for curbside collection while a smaller kitchen container will also be provided for most residential properties. Multi-residential and condominium properties that receive private waste collection services are not included.

The Green Bin for curbside collection is a heavy-duty, pest-proof cart with wheels and a locking mechanism on the lid. It can only be unlocked manually or when flipped upside down.

The following items will be accepted in the Green Bin:

• all food waste (cooked, raw, bones or spoiled);

• soiled paper products (tissues, paper towels, cardboard, pizza boxes);

• pet waste and kitty litter (no plastic liners or bags)

The following items will be disposed of in the garbage: 

• non-recyclable product packaging

• coffee pods

• diapers and wipes

• feminine hygiene products;

• plastic bags and film (overwrap)

Organic material makes up about 40 per cent of residential waste in Canada according to Mayor Jeff Leal. At full capacity, the City’s Green Resource Organics Works composting facility could accept up to 40,000 tonnes of organic material per year from the City and County of Peterborough.

Leal continued to mention that food waste at the landfill contributes to the production of greenhouse gases and leachate.

“By reducing methane gas production at the landfill through diverting organic material for composting, greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced by 1,943 tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2030 and by a total of 79,305 tonnes between 2023 and 2050,” said Leal.

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City to Begin Large Item Pickup, Starting April 24

The City of Peterborough is beginning to collect large items for a fee alongside weekly garbage allowance such as furniture and appliances starting April 24, announced on Thursday.

File Photo.

It is $30 for the first item and $10 for any additional item. Mattresses and box springs are $30 each and do not count as a first item.

Residents can book their collection online or by phone at 705-742-7777 ext. 1865. The deadline for booking is the Tuesday before each pickup date at 4:30 p.m.

Large-item collection continues monthly until September with all large-item pickup dates as follows:

• April 24

• May 29

• June 26

• July 24

• Aug. 28

• Sept. 25

The collection could take a few days to complete. Items are to be left at the curb for pickup.

Refrigeration items must have the Freon removed prior to collection.

Auto parts, televisions and monitors are not accepted. These items can be disposed of at the Hazardous and Electronic Waste Depot at 400 Pido Rd., open Wednesday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Building or construction material can be disposed of at the Landfill at 1260 Bensfort Rd.

For more details, call the Waste Management Division at 742-7777 ext. 1657 or visit online.

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City Council Approves Changes To Garbage Pickup; Clear Bags and Bi-Weekly Trash Pickup

City Council has endorsed adopting the clear bags and bi-weekly trash pickup as part of an the Waste Management Master Plan Update during a meeting on Monday night.

File Photo.

The summary of changes in waste management services are the following:

• Requiring the use of clear garbage bags for waste collection

• Moving to every-other-week residential garbage collection starting Oct. 31 at the same time as the introduction of weekly Green Bin (household organic waste) collection service that will reduce the bulk of current garbage material

• Preparing for the provincially-directed switch to producer-responsible recycling program delivery, instead of it being a municipal service, starting Jan. 1

• Bringing a report to Council in the future to amend the Waste Collection Enforcement By-law to include new definitions of the waste stream, collection requirements, and penalties for non-compliance as an option if public education efforts are not effective in changing disposal behaviours

The changes would result in garbage collection would shift to every other week while Green Bin and Blue Bin collection would be provided weekly.

A ‘clear bag’ program refers to the use of a garbage bag that is transparent or see-through. According to the City, use of clear bags for garbage encourages waste diversion in several ways:

• Clear bag Programs improves worker safety and allows Transfer Station attendants the ability to conduct a quick assessment of the contents within the clear bag(s) to ensure that no recyclable or hazardous items are in the bag.

• Clear bags can serve as a reminder if people forget to separate out these materials from their garbage, as the clear bag allows residents to see what is being thrown out.

• Clear bags prompt people to reflect on their waste disposal habits and encourage them to consider waste diversion options.

• Clear bags can assist in with the enforcing of municipal material disposal bans by allowing waste collectors to monitor for compliance and reject any bags containing banned items.

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Curbside Green Waste Collection Extended to Friday

The City of Peterborough's curbside collection of green waste has been extended one week, ending on Friday.

File Photo.

The collection was originally scheduled to end on Nov. 26. Residential leaf and yard waste is accepted and there are no quantity limits when set out following the collection guidelines.

Each bag or container must weigh less than 22 kg. Brush can be tied in bundles weighing not more than 22 kg, with a length of up to one metre and a diameter of up to 30.5 cm.

Paper yard waste bags, bushel baskets or garbage bins with yellow Green Waste labels will be picked up on the same day as garbage and recycling collection. Plastic bags are not accepted.

After Friday, curbside green waste collection will resume in spring 2023.

Green waste is accepted year-round at the Peterborough Waste Management Facility (landfill) at 1260 Bensfort Rd. There is a minimum charge of $7 per load, or $95 per tonne.

For more details, residents can call the waste management division at 705-742-7777 ext. 1657 or visit the City of Peterborough website www.peterborough.ca/waste.

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Changes To Garbage, Recycling And Green Waste Pickup For Canada Day

Garbage, recycling and green waste will not be collected on Canada Day, Friday.

File Photo.

Collections for this date will move to Monday.

Residents who normally have Friday collection must have their garbage, recycling and green waste set out to the curb by 7 a.m. on Monday. All other collections that week will remain unchanged.

The Household Hazardous Waste Depot and the Peterborough County and City Waste Management Facility (landfill) will be closed on Friday.

The Pido Road Recycling Depot remains open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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Waste Management Facility At Bensfort Road Open Accepting Cash Only

The Peterborough Waste Management Facility/landfill at 1260 Bensfort Rd. is open from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m on Tuesday.

File Photo.

Due to currently not having internet or phone service, it is only able to accept customers with accounts or cash for transactions at this time.

When internet and phone service is restored to allow debit and credit card transactions, an update will be provided.

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