Curbside Organics Program

Starting January 1st, 2025, the City of Cornwall is launching a curbside organics pick-up program. This initiative is part of the city's ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability and waste reduction. Green bins have been delivered to all residential and business properties. Curbside collection will begin the first week of January 2025.

Please ensure that you only place your green bin at the curb for collection on your regular collection day, starting after January 1st, 2025.

If you have not yet received your green bin, please contact the City’s Waste Management team at 613-937-1777 to request one.

Program Overview

  • Residential homes and multi-residential properties, such as apartments will receive a green bin and a kitchen catcher bin to make organic waste collection simple and efficient.
  • Collection will occur every week throughout the city.
  • Residents are advised to mark their address and unit number on the green bin with a permanent marker.
  • Failure to comply with the mandatory diversion and clear bag collection policy may result in waste not being collected during regular collection
For more information on what goes in the garbage, recycling, and composting bins, please view our detailed flyer here.

Videos

 Green Bin 101
 
 How to Use Your Green Bin 
 

Materials Included in the Green Bin Program

Food Waste:

  • Bread, coffee filters & grounds, tea & tea bags, condiments, corn cobs, husks, popcorn, cake and candy, seafood & shellfish, eggs & eggshells, cooking oils (solidified), animal greases & vegetable lard, pasta, beans, rice, couscous, fruits & vegetables, sugar & spices, oatmeal & oats, cereal & grains, meat, poultry & scraps, pizza, leftovers & plate scrapings, dairy products (milk, cheese, sour cream), nuts, pits, nut shells & butters, liquids (soups, sauces, juice, coffee).

Yard Waste:

  • Flowers, plants & weeds, dried flowers, leaves & grass clippings, twigs (12mm x 1.5m), pumpkins, hedge trimmings, wooden popsicle sticks, compostable cutlery, untreated wood scraps (> 75mm), straw and hay.

Other Material:

  • Paper towels, tissues, paper napkins, cotton balls, tissue paper, food-soiled paper & cardboard, newspaper & paper, sugar, flour & potato paper bags, compostable plastics, diapers and sanitary products, animal food, animal waste.

Items Not Collected in the Green Bin

  • Ashes, dead animals (roadkill), construction materials, wood greater than 12mm x 1.5M, biohazard materials, soiled litter, recyclables (glass, metal & Styrofoam), hair, animal fur & feathers, dangerous domestic products (used oils, batteries, paint cleaning products), textiles, fabrics, bricks, stones, asphalt.

Tips for Keeping Your Green Bin Clean

  • Line the Bin: Use compostable bags or newspaper to line your bin. This helps contain messes and makes cleaning easier.
  • Wrap & Freeze Food Scraps: Wrap meat and fish in newspaper or paper towels, then freeze until collection day to prevent odors and pests.
  • Layer Waste: Alternate layers of food waste with yard trimmings or cardboard to absorb liquids and reduce smells.
  • Rinse Regularly: Clean your bin with water and mild detergent or vinegar every few weeks to keep it fresh.
  • Neutralize Odors: Sprinkle baking soda, add citrus peels, or use coffee grounds to reduce unpleasant smells.
  • Use Baking Soda: Sprinkle a layer of baking soda at the bottom of your bin to neutralize odors.
  • Stay Shaded: Store your bin in a shaded, ventilated area to minimize heat and odors.
  • Secure the Lid: Ensure the lid is tightly closed to keep animals out.

                           

Frequently Asked Questions

 What is the Green Bin Program?
The Green Bin Program is part of the City of Cornwall’s commitment to sustainability and waste reduction. Starting January 1, 2025, it enables residents and businesses to dispose of food and organic waste for composting, keeping these materials out of landfills. Eliminating organic waste from landfilling helps to reduce the amount of methane that is produced at the City’s municipal landfill site. Not only does it help to extend the life of the landfill site by minimizing what is disposed, it also helps to lower potential environmental impacts for a cleaner environment and city.
 What happens to the organic waste collected?
The City of Cornwall has contracted GFL Environmental to transport and process the organic waste into compost. Once the organics are collected from your home, they will be delivered to the City’s Transfer Station and then are loaded into a large transportation vehicle and delivered to GFL’s processing site. The processing equipment at GFL Environmental is not your typical backyard composter. Having large scale commercial processing equipment that shreds, separates contaminants, constant aeration (addition of oxygen) and temperature control helps break down items like animal fats, bones and sanitary products. The process eliminates any pathogens during the process creating a Double AA grade compost that is tested frequently to ensure it meets the highest standards. Participating in the organic program helps reduce methane emissions, extend landfill life, and produce a valuable resource for agricultural and landscaping use.
 My green bin is too small for my household. Can I request a larger bin?
If you feel your green bin is insufficient, you can request an additional or larger bin by contacting the Waste Management Department at 613-937-1777. Availability may depend on current inventory. Other bins are available at local hardware stores and come in a variety of sizes. Any large bin that is green in colour and is equipped with a lifting bar at the front are acceptable in the program.
 Can I put diapers or sanitary items in the green bin?
Only certified compostable diapers and plastic-free sanitary products can go in the green bin. These items must be made from biodegradable materials and carry proper certifications, such as ASTM D6400, BPI, or BNQ, to ensure they break down safely in industrial composting facilities.
Traditional diapers and sanitary products with plastic components should still go in the garbage.
 What about the smell and critters in summer?
 Green bins are designed with locking lids to minimize odors and keep animals out. To further reduce smells:
  • Line your bin with compostable bags.
  • Wrap food scraps in newspaper.
  • Store meat and fish scraps in the freezer until collection day.
  • Keep your bins securely closed and/or locked.
 Can I still use leaf bags for yard waste?
Yes, you can continue using paper leaf bags or garbage cans for yard waste. This collection now occurs weekly all year, which also translates to weekly collection instead of bi-weekly during the summer months.
 Can I use regular plastic bags in my green bin?
No, regular plastic bags are not compostable and cannot be used. Please use certified compostable bags (e.g., ASTM D6400-certified) or line your bin with newspaper.
 What should I do if I haven’t received my green bin?
Green bins are being delivered throughout November and December. If you haven’t received yours by mid-December, please contact the Waste Management Department at 613-937-1777.
 Can kitty litter go in the green bin?
Only biodegradable kitty litter (not clay-based) can be included in the green bin. Non-biodegradable litter should go in the regular garbage.
 Why can the city compost meat, bones, and diapers, but I can’t compost these at home?

The city uses an advanced industrial composting facility capable of processing these materials safely and efficiently. Backyard composters lack the necessary equipment and conditions, which can lead to safety and odor issues. The processing equipment at GFL Environmental is not your typical backyard composter. Having large scale commercial processing equipment that shreds, separates contaminants, constant aeration (addition of oxygen) and temperature control helps break down items like animal fats, bones and sanitary products. The process eliminates any pathogens during the process creating a Double AA grade compost that is tested frequently to ensure it meets the highest standards.
Is there a weight limit for the Green Bin?
Yes, the maximum weight is 50 pounds (22 kilograms) to ensure safe handling.
Do I need to use a liner in my Green Bin?
No, using a liner is optional. You can place food waste directly into the bin if you prefer. If a liner is not used, we recommend using newspaper, flyers or cardboard to line your bin so the material slides out of the bin easier.
How often is the Green Bin collected?
Green Bins are collected weekly alongside your regular garbage and recycling collection.
Can I put paper towels and toilet paper in the Green Bin?
Yes, as long as they are soiled with food or water and not contaminated with chemicals or hazardous materials.
Can I put K-Cups in the Green Bin?

No, K-Cups cannot be placed in the Green Bin. Coffee grounds can go in the bin, but the cup itself must be disposed of according to its material (e.g., recyclable or garbage).
Are dryer sheets allowed in the Green Bin?
No, dryer sheets are not compostable and must go in the garbage.
What do I do with aluminum foil containers?
If they are clean, aluminum containers belong in the Blue Box (recycling). If food-soiled, they should go in the garbage.
Can I compost pizza boxes?

Yes, greasy pizza boxes can be placed in the Green Bin. If they are clean, they should go in the Blue Box. Most times even if the bottom is dirty the top of the box can be recycled. 
Are there specific rules for multi-residential buildings?
Yes, multi-residential properties may have shared Green Bins. Contact your property manager or Waste Management for guidelines specific to your building.
Can I put compostable items in a bag on the curb instead of using the Green Bin?
No, compostable materials should be placed inside the Green Bin for collection. Bags left outside the bin will not be picked up. Compost bags are designed to biodegrade quickly, placing these items to the curb can result in the bag breaking and material spilling over the roadway. 

Why Collecting Organics is Important

Keeping organics out of the landfill site will help to:

  • extend the life of the landfill. 
  • minimize the amount of methane that is created during natural decomposition at the Landfill Site. 
  • recover valuable resources (yes, your food scraps are valuable!).
  • comply with the province’s Food and Organic Waste Policy Statement and Framework , which will ban food and organic waste from disposal sites by 2025.
  • be a part of a global movement to meet the United Nations Sustainability Goals.

Call the Waste Management Department for more information at 613-937-1777

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