Thursday, January 25, 2007

Green Bin Program

This is some interesting information on how the Green Bin works:

http://www.toronto.ca/greenbin/faq.htm#note


How the program works




Where is the organic material going?

A:
Your organic materials are picked up at the curb by collection vehicles and taken to the Dufferin Organics Processing Facility in Toronto, which was built specifically for the Green Bin Organics Program. A biological process that uses bacteria in the absence of oxygen ("anaerobic digestion") converts the organics into organic solid material. This material is taken to another facility where it is turned into compost.

Q:
What will the finished compost be used for?
A:
It will be used as a soil amendment for farmland and parkland.

Q:
Is this program safe and sanitary? What about germs/bacteria from diapers or animal waste?
A:
The Green Bin Program is completely sanitary and safe. All of the materials collected in the green bin were previously collected as garbage, so the common sense precautions you take when handling household waste still apply. Between collection days, store your green bin in a secure location to avoid accidental tipping and animal interference. Keep the lid closed to minimize odours and discourage flies/pests. Just as you would after handling any waste container, wash your hands after handling the green bin.
Materials collected in the Green Bin Program go through a series of processing operations resulting in a clean and safe compost product. Mechanical operations separate organic materials from the film plastic bags used to either line the green bin or the kitchen container and the contaminant materials normally found in such waste. Final processing involves aerobic composting, a biological process that occurs in the presence of oxygen, produces a stabilized organic material called compost. Composting has been used for decades to convert a variety of organic materials, including human and animal waste, into a safe and bacteria-free product.
Through decades of experiment and experience, sanitary engineering practice has developed standards for the composting process that ensure elimination of disease-causing organisms (pathogens). The high temperatures occurring naturally during the composting process destroys pathogens. Maintaining such high temperatures for a minimum time period ensures the final finished compost is pathogen-free.
Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment specifies and regulates processing requirements via the operating permits it issues to composting facilities in the province.

Q:
How have the bins been tested to ensure they are durable?
A:
The containers have been thoroughly tested by the manufacturer and are guaranteed to last five years. The City did additional testing, including drop tests, and involved both collectors and ergonomists to analyze the bins. If your bin cracks or breaks, please call Customer Service at 416-338-2010 to find out where to go to replace it (you will need to bring your broken bin with you).

Q:
Are apartment residents participating in the Green Bin Organics Program?
A:
Not at this time. There are pilot projects being undertaken across the City in apartment buildings to determine the system that would work best there.

Hello,

I hope the cold isn't getting you all down! We were out sledding this past week taking advantage of the good snow!

Below you will find an interesting article about the Green Bin program and how it works...All the best...Dan

The big picture: Diverting waste from landfill

Q:
Is the Green Bin Program really helping Toronto reduce waste from landfill?
A:
Yes. We know by studying results from the Etobicoke and Scarborough communities' participation that, on average, each participating household is diverting 200 kg of organics from landfill - a lot more than the City had hoped for. How much is that exactly? Enough to keep almost 1,500 trucks bound for Michigan landfill off the road each year. And if Toronto, York and East York perform as well as Etobicoke and Scarborough, that will represent an additional 1,800 or more trucks bound for Michigan landfill off the road annually.

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