Green Bin:
Who Does What?

The Principal’s role

• provides leadership and direction for the green bin team

• together with the head caretaker and school staff, collaborates on a workable timeline and scope of the green bin organics program

• works with head caretaker to determine location of the 35 gallon green bin(s) and/or outdoor front-end container

• co-ordinates daycare, school nutrition and other programs’ participation

• ensures routines are in place to collect, empty and clean classroom-size “kitchen catchers” (1.85 gallon #8045) into the 35 gallon green bin(s)

• oversees purchase of additional classroom-size bins (see page about available rebates)

Education Staff and Students' role

• together with the head caretaker and principal, collaborates on a workable timeline and scope of the green bin organics program

• educates school community (using announcements, student-created posters, virtual assemblies, green bin awards) on the proper placement of materials into the green bin

• monitors, empties, and cleans classroom bins daily or as-needed to prevent odour and fruit flies. Can be carried out by class representatives or members of a green bin team. Classroom bins can be lined with newspaper, paper towel or (non-compostable) plastic bags

• works with school community to create an effective green bin program, e.g., visually inspecting bins to reduce contamination, awarding classrooms with low contamination, promoting eco-friendly lunches

The Caretaker’s role

• together with the principal and school staff, collaborates on a workable timeline and scope of the green bin organics program and informs FTL of plans

• contacts FTL to initiate City green-bin organics pick-up if necessary or to obtain outdoor front-end container or 35 gallon bin(s) (see FTL role for details)

• together with the principal, decides the best central locations for the 35 gallon green bins (e.g., on each floor, in staff rooms, school kitchens, science labs, food and nutrition classrooms and programs, day care, lunchrooms, and cafeterias).

• empties and lines 35 gallon green bins daily, or as needed, and always before a weekend or holiday

• transfers (if bin not on ground floor) the organics from any green bins (both centrally located and in high-use areas) to the 35 gallon bins or outdoor front-end container to be emptied by the City. Cleans bins as needed

• works with school community to create an effective green bin program, e.g., communicating when bins are heavily contaminated

• ensures outdoor front-end container or 35 gallon bins are placed in an approved location for weekly collection. Calls 311 (311@toronto.ca) to report missed collection of garbage, recycling and organics. For ongoing pick-up issues, contacts FTL

The Facility Team Leader’s role

For schools with City green bin pick-up in place

• FTL informs Learning Centre (LC) garbage representative if head caretaker indicates ongoing city pick-up issues. Head Caretaker to include 311 reference numbers. Information sent to city to resolve

• provides outside collection containers — 35 gallon green bins or front-end container

• connects with City to co-ordinate collection and informs school when the green bin organics bin will be collected

For schools that require the City to re-start green bin pick-up

• School informs FTL of their intention to re-start green bin program and advise FTL on start date for program once routines and outside bins are in place

• If needed FTL can review with Head Caretaker and school staff location of outside collection bins

• FTL informs LC garbage representative of green bin program start date who would then inform the City to re-start program

For schools that require the City to start a green bin pick-up

• FTL informs LC garbage representative to acquire city approval of green bin organics bin pick up

• LC garbage representative informs FTL to order outdoor front-end container from TDSB approved vendor or fills out City forms to get 35 gallon green bins

• once routines and outside bin(s) are in place school informs FTL of start date. FTL informs LC garbage representative of green bin program start date who would then inform the City to start program

• Schools on private collection are not eligible for the green bin program

The TDSB EcoSchools Central team’s role

• provides rebates to schools for classroom-size green bin purchases

• provides posters and other green bin guides to support the running of the green bin program (see Order Form)

• offers direct support and strategies to launch and get buy-in for school green bin program, help with setting up routines and overcoming challenges

• connects schools with educational partners that offer classroom waste programs, workshops and assemblies

• supports teachers with educational resources across the curriculum to raise awareness and generate solutions for real-life environmental issues such as waste

• supports schools and EcoTeams connect green bin actions to the EcoSchools Certification program