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Each of us is responsible for the waste we produce in the spaces at school where we work, learn, and play. Starting a school green bin program is similar to starting a recycling program. Both need leadership, an effective communication strategy, and staff and student support. And both allow the school community to work together to further reduce their waste and environmental impact.
As part of the Board's waste disposal agreement with the City of Toronto, all schools are required to participate in the Green Bin Program (except for those on private pick-up). And EcoSchools offers a rebate for buying bins!
The following sections provide information, explanations, and tips to help your school successfully divert its organic waste from garbage bin to green bin. Or, open this details PDF that has all the details, or this overview PDF.
Questions? Contact the EcoSchools team at:
What are the benefits?
What are the benefits?
The Toronto Green Bin Program takes organic waste (unavoidable food scraps, paper towel, tissue, and paperboard products like soiled pizza boxes) and processes it using anaerobic digestion. The end product is a crumbly material that is turned into useable nutrient-rich compost used to feed and nourish soil.
When organics go to the landfill, these nutrients are lost, hazardous leachates are produced, and methane gas is released. Methane gas traps heat in the Earth’s atmosphere much more efficiently than CO2. Reducing methane emissions by diverting valuable organics away from landfills could have an immediate, beneficial effect on our climate.
Start small and do it well!
Start small and do it well!
Weekly pick-up day: same day as garbage pick-up; if garbage is picked up twice a week put it out on the first day.
Focus on implementing a successful collection process for one area of your school, for example:
Start paper towel collection in the washrooms
Place residential sized (12 gallon #8046) green bins in the lunchroom/cafeteria
Collect food waste created from a breakfast, snack, lunch, daycare, and/or hospitality program
Regardless of how you start, the expectation is to put out containers for collection each week.
Use the "Support Materials" subpage for information on ordering recycling/compost bins and toters.
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