Toothpicks, bones and animal hair: What's allowed in your Windsor-Essex green bin in October

What's allowed in the garbage will change later this year, as Ontario's provincially mandated organic waste diversion program begins this fall in Windsor-Essex.

Collection starts the week of Oct. 21 in approximately 120,000 households in Windsor, Tecumseh, Lakeshore, LaSalle and Essex. That doesn't cover apartment complexes and businesses — both of which are not legislated to be a part of the program.

Kits will be distributed to curbsides for three months, starting in July. 

They'll consist of a 120-litre green bin, a seven-litre kitchen catcher, sample compostable bags for the kitchen unit, and a how-to user guide. The green bin is a cart with wheels and a gravity lock to keep the lid closed.

The organic waste will make its way to Seacliff Energy in Leamington where it will be composted and converted to alternative energy. 

Collection calendars from the Essex-Windsor Solid Waste Authority (EWSWA), including the new green bin program, will start hitting households this month, according to its waste diversion manager.

Cathy Copot-Nepszy says green bins will be picked up weekly and residents will be responsible for purchasing their own compostable bags for the smaller kitchen pail with lids.

"Just as people buy garbage bags currently to put their food waste and other garbage in their garbage can, it will be the same with this program," she said.

"We are working with retailers right now to get those on shelves so … they'll be able to find a compostable bag for this program."

The City of Windsor is set to move from weekly to biweekly garbage collection at the same time the green bin program begins in October, while the other municipalities are remaining status quo with weekly trash pick-up, for now, according to Copot-Nepszy.

Windsor Ward 9 Coun. Kieran McKenzie, who's also on the EWSWA's board, calls the program "long overdue," allowing Windsor-Essex to get "caught up" to many other places across the country.

He says the move to every other week collection in the city will be the biggest impact for people.

"There's trepidation," he said. 

However, the long-term environmental impact is what residents should have their eyes toward, he says.

"We are going to have the opportunity to move about 30 per cent of the waste that's currently going into the landfill on an annual basis and redirecting it into some kind of reusable or recycled material."

The second phase of the project covering Leamington, Kingsville and Amherstburg is set for fall 2026.

Food scraps accepted in the green bin:

• Baked goods and candies.

• Bread, cereal, pasta, noodles, rice, beans, grains.

• Coffee filters and grounds, paper tea bags.

• Dairy products, including milk, yogurt, butter and cheese.

• Dry baking ingredients, herbs, spices.

• Eggs and eggshells.

• Fats, cooking oils and food grease (liquid or solid).

• Fruits and vegetables (cooked or raw, including peels, scraps and pits).

• Meat, giblets and bones, seafood and shells.

• Nuts and seeds.

• Salad dressing, mayonnaise, gravy and sauces.

Accepted 'food-soiled' paper products:

• Cardboard egg cartons.

• Food-soiled paper napkins, paper towel, and tissues (provided it is free of contaminants, such as household cleaners).

• Food-soiled paper plates, cups, and muffin wrappers (un-waxed and unplasticised).

• Food-soiled pizza boxes and cardboard.

• Newsprint, and paper bags (to wrap food and line containers).

• Unplasticised soiled paper food packaging (such as flour bags).

• Waxed paper.

• Wooden stir sticks, chop sticks, popsicle sticks and toothpicks.

Miscellaneous materials accepted:

• Household plants (including soil) and cut flowers.

• Human and animal hair.

• Pumpkins.

Do you have to take part?

While Copot-Nepszy says there's nothing currently in place to penalize residents for not taking part it in the program, it doesn't mean a lack of participation won't be flagged.

"The [organic waste collection] driver will have access to a lot of information that they will be logging as they drive by each address," she said. 

"They will be documenting if that address is participating or if they're not."

Copot-Nepszy says they'll also be taking note if there's contamination inside of the bins which will "remain in our files."

"That's where you can go in and go target and have those conversations with those neighbourhoods ... and understand what their issues are." 

She says it's a matter of prioritizing collection and diversion and working to educate residents.

"Really work hard to engage people and have them understand all the benefits to participating in the program."