Calgary Begins New Green Bin Waste Collection

The residents of Calgary have eagerly begun to use their new green bins for organic material, sending out more than 2 million kilograms of food scraps and yard waste to be composted at its southeast location. The city’s southwest region was introduced to the system in July, and this week, the northwest region will have access to it as well.

About 180,000 green bins were given out to homeowners in the northwest area last week. Now that everyone in the region has their own bin, they’ve started using the system alongside their southwest peers. Very soon, everyone in Calgary will be composting their organic leftovers. The garbage collection schedule will be altered to accommodate the city’s waste management changes, and residents are being encouraged to adjust to the new pickup dates.

The major difference between waste collection with green bins is the frequency at which black bins are picked up. Blue and green bin waste is collected together at the same time every week, while the black bin waste is collected every other week, and potentially on a different day than citizens expect. It’s important to confirm with the waste collection calendar that you’re putting the right garbage out on the right day.

 The city’s green waste bins are made for collecting all organic material, including leftover bits of fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy products, eggs, tea leaves, coffee grounds, and yard waste like leaves, twigs, and unwrapped animal droppings. If it’s biodegradable, it can be put into your green bin. Just make sure to keep everything as clean and compact as possible so your compostable bag isn’t too heavy to carry and doesn’t rip as a result of overstuffing.

Avoid putting biodegradable plastic into your green bin. Even brands that make products with certified biodegradable plastic cannot be composted, as the breakdown process of these materials is typically much slower than that of true organic matter. If you slip up once, no big deal. Simply keep it in mind the next time you go to throw it into your bin.

If you’re a forgetful person, consider downloading a reminder app for your city’s waste collection schedule. You’ll be good to go if you abide by your city’s garbage disposal rules and do your part to protect the environment by composting whatever you can.