On Monday, London’s first day of Green Bin collection begins as part of a new collection schedule for homes that place their garbage and recycling at the curb.
“I know many households have eagerly waited to start using the Green Bin, and I’m excited that Monday is the first day of collection for this important program,” says Mayor Josh Morgan. “By properly sorting our food scraps and other organic materials to go into the new Green Bin, the program will help divert valuable resources from our landfill, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and help our community take climate action together.”
“Next week is the beginning of many important changes across the city,” says Jay Stanford, Director, Climate Change, Environment, and Waste Management. “A new collection schedule will begin, and Londoners will start to place their Green Bin at the curb on their new collection dates. Your Green Bin materials and recycling will be collected more frequently on a weekly basis, while garbage is now collected every other week.”
Checking your collection schedule
A calendar of 2024 collection dates was included inside the Green Bin when it was delivered to households. The collection schedule can also be found online at london.ca/CollectionCalendar, or using online tools such as Zone Finder or the Recycle Coach app.
As part of London’s new Green Bin program, the frequency of collection days has changed.
Green Bins and recycling are picked up at the curb every week. Organic materials (such as food waste that can cause odours) will be collected weekly in the Green Bin.
Garbage is picked up at the curb every other week. This means that Londoners will be required to hold onto remaining garbage four to six additional days compared to the current system.
Yard waste collection will still occur every five weeks during the spring and summer and more frequent in the fall.
How to use the Green Bin
In the kitchen – Use your Kitchen Container to store food waste and table scraps before moving them to your Green Bin. Certified compostable liners or paper items can be used to help absorb liquids. Plastic bags cannot be used.
Preparing your Green Bin – When your Kitchen Container is full, empty it into your Green Bin every few days. Certified compostable liners are accepted in the Green Bin. You do not have to use a liner, but they can help contain food waste and reduce odours. Remember to use the latch on the Green Bin lid to securely keep it closed.
Placing it at the curb – Follow your collection schedule to place your Green Bin at the curb on the correct days. After your Green Bin’s contents are collected, retrieve your bin from the curb.
Some of the items that can go in the Green Bin include:
- Meat and poultry scraps
- Dairy products
- Vegetable and fruit peelings
- Fats, cooking oils, and food grease, including City of London FOG Cups
- Baked goods, pasta, and bread
- Wooden stir sticks, chop sticks, household plants
- Soiled paper such as paper napkins, paper towels, and tissues
Keep these items out of the Green Bin:
- Elastic bands
- Food stickers
- Painted or treated wood
- Pet waste
- All plastic products including plastic utensils, plastic bags, and plastic packaging
For more information about what can and can’t go into the Green Bin, please review your new printed 2024 Waste Reduction and Conservation Guide that was included inside the Green Bin when it was delivered to your home. Information is also available at london.ca/GreenBin.
Taking climate action and reducing food waste
Implementing the Green Bin program supports London’s Climate Emergency Action Plan. It will be a new way for families and households to take climate action together.
Approximately 45% of what’s put in the garbage in London is commonly collected organic materials including food waste. The Green Bin program is expected to divert an additional 10% to 12% of London’s waste away from the landfill. This will increase waste diversion from the current level of 45% to between 55% and 57% after a full year of operation. The program will reduce London’s greenhouse gas emissions, and will help keep food waste and other organic materials from going in the landfill while turning it into a nutrient rich product that can be used on farmers’ fields.
To help further take climate action, 26 new trucks powered by compressed natural gas will also be used by the City for Green Bin collection. These trucks include two compartments in the back keeping organic materials separate from garbage. Switching from diesel fuel to compressed natural gas helps reduce the trucks’ emissions and noise. The City received federal funding of $8 million through the Canada Community-Building Fund to support the purchase of these new trucks.
Reducing food waste at home before it has to go in the Green Bin is also an important part of the solution to reduce waste. Actions at home like meal planning, using up leftovers, and checking what food is in your home before buying more can all help. On average, each household in London tosses more than $1,000 of avoidable food waste each year.
Thank you for your patience as we begin this new program
We recognize that changes can be frustrating for some Londoners. We have modelled the changes after other communities in Ontario to ensure different parts of the new collection system will work.
Launching a new collection system across the city is complex and will take time to work through challenges that may come up. In these initial days of new routes and the new collection schedule, your Green Bin, recycling, or garbage may be collected a little later in the day than usual.
The City appreciates Londoners’ patience as we begin the first days of this new program. If you see collection crews out, please give them a friendly wave next week.