Composting

The Green Cart Program is your community’s solution for managing organic waste in an environmentally responsible way. By separating food scraps, yard trimmings, and other compostable materials from regular garbage, we’re reducing landfill waste and creating nutrient-rich compost that helps gardens, parks, and farms thrive.

Green Cart Tips

• Collection of your green cart takes place weekly throughout the summer, however, you should only put your cart out when it is full.
• By wrapping food scraps in old newspaper you will trap the smells inside the paper, and thus reduce the chance for odours to be noticed by you and your neighbours.
• To reduce odours: Sprinkle small amounts baking soda, powdered garden lime, powdered laundry detergent (no bleach) in your cart.
• Don’t forget to collect organic material from other rooms in your house such as your laundry room and/or bathroom(s). Facial tissue, toilet paper rolls, dryer lint, are just a few of the other items that can go in your green cart for collection.
• Wash your Green Cart with mild detergent or a vinegar/water solution immediately after collection or as required.
• If you notice maggots in your cart you can use the following methods to kill the maggots and fly eggs:
  • Pour boiling water on them
  • Sprinkle large amounts of salt on them
  • Use a mild detergent with a fragrance
  • Clean your cart as soon as it has been emptied
• Store your green cart outside in a convenient location for you and when not in use always keep the lid closed.
• To help with the dumping process:
  • Place some cardboard at the bottom of the cart so that grass and other organic material do not stick
  • When placing cart out at edge of curb or laneway for collection, dump an ice cream size pail of water around the edge of cart to help loosen material.
  • Alternate layers of kitchen waste with dry yard waste
  • When you have excess material (leaves and garden waste) allow material to dry before placing in cart - this will ensure material does not stick to the outside of cart