Simcoe County is alerting residents to watch for their Green Bin startup kits.
The composting program is to take effect Sept. 29. Additional items will be allowed in the blue boxes and a one-bag (20 kg.) limit for garbage is to be introduced at the same time.
Most households will be putting out the same amount of garbage. It will just be in different containers.
The Green Bins will hold organic waste and are to be picked up on the same day as the regular garbage collection. The material from the Green Bins is to be redirected from landfill sites to become compost for soil amendment.
Added to what may be put in the blue boxes are: empty aerosol cans, spiral wound containers such as those used for frozen juice, etc., tetra pak containers, as those used for drinks and broths and gable top containers used for milk and juices.
The composting program is already operating in many municipalities including Toronto.
"I'm happy to hear that the program will be coming to Wasaga Beach," said Josie DeNicola, who divides her time between Wasaga Beach and Toronto.
DeNicola was project manager for Clorox's development of a Glad compostable bag, launched last February. The bags, available in two sizes, are an example of some of the environmentally friendly products now available from various manufacturers as an alternative to traditional plastic bags.
"When shopping for compostable bags for your Green Bin or organic kitchen bin, be sure to look for the BPI (Biodegradeable Products Institute) stamp of approval," DeNicola recommends, adding that, "the words 'biodegradeable' or 'compostable' alone do not guarantee that the product will be suitable for municipal or county compost facilities. A strict set of criteria, such as ingredients, amount of time to decompose, etc. must be met to earn the BPI stamp of approval.
Organic waste in the kitchen may be wrapped in newspaper or placed in one of the smaller bags, then put out in the Green Bin in the larger sized bag. The wrapping and bagging or double bagging may help deter scavengers. In Clorox's vernacular, it reduces the "yuk" factor involved in handling organic waste.
