My neighbors are observant. Someone has noticed my green wheelie bin was not out at the curb yet. I felt obliged to divert the implied criticism by noting that my backyard composter bin is not yet full. Once it is, or we get more snowfalls than I wish to shovel, I will use the green bin.
One of the lesser heralded features of the new city composting system is the smart beige carrying bin for the kitchen counter. I used to use a little blue pail that once held the kid's sidewalk chalk. But this new bin is larger, has a lid, and I fill it up daily (being home for 3 meals a day does that...).
I don't bother with a liner. Maybe a piece of paper towel at the bottom or quarter sheet of the daily newspaper goes in first. After that it's peels and paper towels galore. I do spray it with veggie cooking spray first, everything then slides out. I have also run it through the dishwasher twice, it comes out like new, but the label looks like it won't last too much longer if Ms Kenmore keeps it up.
On the other hand, the folks at Laidlaw CoOp are participating and keeping the truck busy.
My father put his bin out for the first time last Friday. When the truck lifting mechanism put it down, it did so with much too much force, smashing the bin from top to bottom. Within half an hour, a city truck swung by and swapped his broken bin for a new one.
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We love our greenbin. I know the program was criticized but I just don't see it - our experience has been excellent. It's a good size, we fill it in two weeks and we put infinitely more in it than in a backyard bin.
ReplyDeleteI'm ashamed that I used to have so many plastic bags containing a single dog poo in my garbage can. Now the poo goes straight in the bin, in newspaper. I suspect I'll end up putting yard waste in the bin too - I've always hated packing yard waste bags with sticks, etc.
We don't use liners, oil or newspaper in the counter bin. Everything comes out fine, and then I just give it a rinse.
Really, it's a great thing. Those who complain will get used to it. I'm sure the recycling bins received the same flack when they were introduced, and now they're just a regular part of our lives.
At least your neighbors are into it! Green bins aren't common in my corner of Ottawa (yet!). Maybe it depends on where you keep them, mine is currently frozen shut...
ReplyDeleteWe keep our greenbin outside and haven't had it freeze shut yet... Maybe you could pour some hot water on the locking mechanism, ginger? :) (the locking mechanism seems to be the worst part - they don't close very well...)
ReplyDeleteI heard some people have had their frozen contents stuck in the bin... I've been putting some crumpled newspaper on the bottom and haven't had a problem yet.
Take-up on my street is pretty good.... definitely some resistance to change, though.
I set the beige carrier bin on my kitchen counter with the best of intentions, but my three year old is now storing puppets in it.
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