Frequently Asked Questions
Unacceptable Items
Green Bin Collection
Green Bins and Kitchen Containers
Participating in the Program
Compost and Composting
Unacceptable Items
Which materials are NOT acceptable?
Please do not discard non-compostable plastics (such as grocery bags), diapers, sanitary products and food wrap into your kitchen container or food bin. These items contaminate finished compost. Read our detailed list of acceptable and unacceptable items.
Why can’t I use regular plastic bags?
Regular plastic bags and food wrap contaminate finished compost. For your convenience, you can line your kitchen container and/or green bin with newspaper, paper bags, and/or certified compostable plastic bags.
Certified compostable plastic bags are available at most grocery and hardware stores. Look for this logo when purchasing compostable plastic bags.
Why can't I put diapers in the green bin?
Plastics, such as grocery bags and diapers, are not permitted in the Organics Recycling Program because they contaminate the finished compost.
You should continue to place diapers in your garbage. Garbage will continue to be collected weekly on your regularly scheduled collection day.
Green Bin Collection
When will the waste in my green bin be collected?
The organic material in the green organics bin will be collected weekly on your regularly scheduled collection day.
Place your green bin next to your Blue Box and yard waste on one side of the driveway, and your garbage on the other side, where possible. Read our collection day check list or call 905-791-9499 for more collection information.
Is the Region using special trucks to collect the organic material?
Collection vehicles with two separate compartments will be used to collect your both your Blue Box and green bin waste.
When should I put my green bin at the curb?
Set your green bin at the curb next to your Blue Box before 7 a.m. on your regularly scheduled collection day.
Do not set out your kitchen container at the curb. The kitchen container is for indoor use only.
Green Bins and Kitchen Containers
How big are the green bin and kitchen container?
The green bin is 68 centimetres (27 inches) high by 38 centimetres (15 inches) wide. It's volume is 46.5 litres (10.2 Imp. gal).
The kitchen container is 22 centimetres (9 inches) high by 30 centimetres (12 inches) wide. Its volume is 7.5 litres (1.6 Imp. gal).
See what the bin and container look like.
Will my organics bin or container smell?
To avoid odours empty your kitchen container frequently and wash both it and the green bin with hot water. Store your green bin in the garage or outside, preferably in a shaded area. Placing a few sheets of newspaper at the bottom of your bin will absorb excess moisture that can trap and cultivate odour-causing bacteria.
What can I line my kitchen container with?
Line your kitchen container with newspaper, certified compostable plastic bags and/or paper
bags. Please don't use non-compostable plastics (e.g., plastic grocery bags). These types of bags (and food wrap) contaminate finished
compost.
Is the kitchen container dishwasher-safe?
Yes. The kitchen container can be washed in the dishwasher or by hand.
Is the outdoor bin pest-proof?
The green organics bin is pest-proof when it's securely sealed. Keep your bin latched at all times and don't place it at the curb for collection any earlier than the morning of your collection day.
What if I need to replace my container or bin or I need an additional one? Where can I buy a new one?
An additional green organics bin will cost $20; a kitchen container will cost $5 (taxes included).
You can purchase additional green bins and kitchen containers at a number of locations throughout Brampton, Caledon and Mississauga. Bring in your broken
green bin for a free replacement.
The broken green bin will be sent back to the manufacturer for recycling.
Participating in the Program
What is organics recycling?
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Organic material includes such things as food waste and used tissues or paper towels
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Household organic material makes up approximately 30 per cent of all our garbage
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Organics recycling diverts this material from disposal by converting it into a useful end product – compost.
What is the Region of Peel’s Organics Recycling Program?
In 2007, the Region of Peel introduced a weekly organics recycling program to all households receiving curbside collection in Brampton, Mississauga and the Town of Caledon.
What are the benefits of an organics recycling program in Peel?
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The weekly organics recycling program offers a made-in-Peel approach to waste management that will contribute to the environmental sustainability of the Region.
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Re-directing organic material from the waste stream will decrease Peel’s dependency on landfill for disposal and help us reach our goal of diverting 70 per cent of our waste from disposal by 2016.
Why is the Region launching an organics recycling program for Peel residents?
Removing organic material from the waste stream will help us reach our goal of diverting 70 per cent of waste from disposal by 2016. The introduction of this program offers a made-in-Peel approach to waste management that will contribute to the environmental sustainability of the Region and will create finished compost — a beneficial, renewable resource.
How much less garbage will we have because of organics recycling?
Household organic material, which includes such things as food scraps and used tissues or paper towels, makes up approximately 30 per cent of all our garbage. This means you can reroute an additional one-third of your household waste from landfill over and above what you're already redirecting through the Blue Box Recycling Program.
Can residents who live in apartment buildings and condominiums participate?
No. Organics recycling will initially be offered to only residents who receive curbside collection.
Compost & Composting
What is compost?
Compost is a dark, earthy substance, which looks, feels and smells like very rich soil. Like peat moss, compost is a valuable soil conditioner, which improves soil structure, holds moisture and adds important nutrients. Compost is a renewable resource that closes the recycling loop from your kitchen to the garden.
Learn more about backyard composting and finished compost.
Are there any health risks associated with composting used tissues?
No. Centralized composting achieves temperatures of 55 to 60 degrees Celsius. These high temperatures destroy human and plant pathogens during the composting process and the used tissues degrade into sugars, starches and lignin, which are consumed by microbes in the organics. The final product is finished compost which can be used by residents on gardens, lawns and as mulch. Laboratory analysis is conducted on the product before it is sold.
How is organics recycling different from backyard composting?
Organics recycling complements backyard composting because it accepts organic waste that can't be added to your backyard compost, like meat, bones and dairy products. Please continue to practice backyard composting.
Is organics recycling better than using a food waste disposer?
Yes, collecting household organic material and converting it to a useful product – compost, is more cost effective and environmentally sound than using a food waste disposer.
Organic waste placed in a food waste disposer ends up as sewage sludge at wastewater treatment facilities, where it must be processed and incinerated at a much higher cost than recycling.
By composting household organic material, Peel can manufacture finished compost, which can be utilized in the horticultural industry and in your own garden.
How does the organics process work?
We take steps to minimize any odours and our facilities consistently meet or exceed provincial environmental standards for air, water and waste.
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Collection vehicles take organic material to one of Peel’s two composting facilities for processing.
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The organic material is shredded and put into large concrete tunnels for seven to 10 days.
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The shredded material is transferred to a paved outdoor curing facility where it is placed in long rows for 60 to 90 days. The curing process biologically stabilizes and matures the compost before it's sold.
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Non-organic particles and oversized materials are filtered out to produce the finished compost.
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The Region’s compost can be used on vegetable gardens, flowerbeds, or as mulch.
Where is the organic material being processed?
Organic material from Brampton and Mississauga will be processed in two Regional facilities.
Initial composting, lasting seven to 10 days, will take place at Peel’s Integrated Waste Management Facility in Brampton. Then the compost will be cured (finished) at the Chinguacousy Compost Curing Facility in Caledon. For the Town of Caledon, composting and final curing will occur at the composting facility at the Caledon Sanitary Landfill.
Can I use the Region's compost in my vegetable garden?
Yes, you can use our compost as mulch, for top dressing your lawn, or to enhance plant growth in your vegetable and/or flower garden.
Where can I buy the Region's compost?
Peel’s compost is competitively priced and sold to a variety of users. The compost can be purchased at our Regional Community Recycling Centres.
How to Participate
