March 3, 2007
Serena Willoughby, Staff Writer

Town starts rolling out green bin program

(Richmond Hill) - Green bins are finally coming to Richmond Hill.
The long awaited launch of the green bin program is set for April 3 and residents will start to see green bins appearing at their doors this week.

"I think we've finally caught up to our residents' expectations," Richmond Hill Mayor Dave Barrow said.

The town's Going Green Team will go door-to-door to raise awareness about the program this month.

Each green bin delivered will come with an instructional DVD, a how-to information package and smaller in-house bins.

Organic materials such as fruit and vegetable scraps, meat and fish products, coffee grounds and filters and soiled paper towels and tissues, will be collected each week and composted rather than landfilled. Indoor bins can be lined with a plastic shopping bag, which can then be deposited in the larger bin.

Due to the amount of waste being diverted through the blue box and green bin programs, garbage will now be picked up every other week.

Once people realize how easy the process of separating waste is the town will easily get to 65 per cent diversion, Mayor Barrow said.

He points to Markham where the green bin program has been in use for the past few years and the diversion rate is close to 70 per cent.

While the town estimates compostable materials makes up about 30 per cent of a household's overall waste, there won't be a limit on the amount of this material you put out for collection.

The program has been a while in coming.

The launch of the program was put on hold two years ago due to budget constraints.

But Mayor Barrow believes that although landfill is still the cheapest way to get rid of waste, the $750,000 price tag on the program is an investment in the environment.

A helpline (905-771-2525) will be set up specifically to answer questions regarding the Going Green program.

To help offset the cost, the town is partnering with Newmarket to provide the call centre service.

Extra green bins cost $18 and an additional kitchen container is $4 after April 1, at the Operations Centre, 1200 Elgin Mills Road East. They are also available in stores.

For more information about the green bin program, go to the town's website at www.town.richmond-hill.on.ca\