Apartment and Townhouse Collection

The Green Bin program is rolling out to apartment and condo residents in Durham Region. You can put all kinds of food waste in your green bin—whether it's raw, frozen, dried, cooked, or spoiled. Just remember to remove any packaging before you throw it in. You can also place items like pet waste, pet litter, diapers, menstrual products, and used paper products (tissues and paper towels) in the green bin.

Residents will soon receive kitchen containers and compostable bags to collect food waste and other Green Bin items. When full, tie the bag and place in the green bin located in your buildings waste collection area.

Please reach out to your Superintendent or Property Manager for information regarding the Green Bin program in your building.

Watch our video and discover useful tips to reduce the "ick" factor while participating in the Green Bin program.

Accepted materials

Food waste

• Breads and cereals
• Coffee grounds, filters and tea bags
• Dairy
• Egg shells
• Food scraps
• Fruits and vegetables
• Meat and bones, fish and seafood
• Nuts

Paper products

• Food-soiled cardboard
• Paper drink trays
• Paper plates
• Paper egg cartons
• Microwave popcorn bags
• Muffin wrappers
• Napkins, paper towels and tissues
• Shredded paper

Other compostable items

• Cat litter
• Diapers, menstrual and incontinence products
• Dryer lint
• Fur and hair
• Pet waste
• Plant material
• Sawdust and wood shavings

Unacceptable materials

• Aluminum foil
• Baby wipes
• Coffee cups
• Coffee pods
• Disposable mop sheets
• Plastic bags
• Plastic wrap

Green bin liners

You can line your kitchen bin or your curbside bin. Use only certified compostable or paper liners.

When buying liners, buy only certified compostable liners. They should have one of these logos on the box:

The recycling program in Ontario is managed by Circular Materials.

Accepted materials

Place all containers in the containers blue cart. Rinse all food containers. Make sure there is no grease, liquids or food in them.

• Plastic containers:
  • Laundry detergent and household cleaner jugs, shampoo, body wash, salad dressing, condiment, dish soap, mouth wash bottles, plastic beverage bottles
  • Food trays, salad, yogurt, peanut butter, bakery and egg containers, plastic cups, plastic tubs and lids
  • Toothpaste tubes, deodorant, hand cream tubes
  • Small item packaging, hand sanitizer bottles, plant pots
• Cartons:
  • Beverage cartons, juice and milk cartons, coffee creamers and sugar cartons, soup and sauce cartons
• Paper laminate containers:
  • Spiral cans, cookie dough package, ice cream containers, and hot and cold beverage cups
• Foam packaging:
  • Meat trays, takeout containers, cups, plates, bowls, foam packaging
• Metal:
  • Food cans, metal lids, cookie, coffee and tea tins, beverage cans
• Aluminum:
  • Aluminum foil, pie plates, frozen food trays
• Aerosol containers:
  • Food spray, hairspray, air fresheners, shaving cream, deodorant
• Glass containers:
  • Food containers, jars and bottles
  • Cosmetic containers
  • Spice bottles
  • Oil and vinegar bottles
  • Non-alcoholic glass beverage containers

Place all paper products in the papers blue cart.

• Cardboard boxes - flatten and bundle, no larger than 60 x 60 centimetres(24 inches)
• Boxboard:
  • Cereal boxes, tissue boxes, egg cartons, rolls from toilet paper and paper towel
• Paper:
  • Any colour, including flour bags, prescription bags, paper produce bags
  • Notepads, white or coloured loose paper, file folders, other printed material
  • Community newspapers, flyers, brochures and magazines
  • Greeting cards and envelopes, gift boxes
• Paper laminate packaging:
  • Pet food bags, food service paper bags, and plates
• Flexible plastic packaging:
  • Bags used for dry cleaning, bread, newspaper and flyers
  • Overwrap (paper towel and toilet paper, beverage containers)
  • Coffee bags or deli pouches, chip bags, bubble wrap, snack wrappers, cereal liner bags, plastic gift bags

Unacceptable materials

• Books
• Toys
• Diapers
• Pots and pans
• Hazardous materials
• Batteries

Put your garbage in the onsite bins. Furniture and large item collection is by appointment only. Your building manager makes these appointments.

Accepted materials

• Broken toys
• Cigarette butts and ashes (cold)
• Coat hangers (wooden)
• Cork
• Crayons, pens, pencils and markers
• Furnace filters
• Gum
• Hoses
• Personal care items
• Ribbons and bows
• Single-use masks and gloves
• Tape
• Wipes, mop and dryer sheets
• Zip ties

Accepted materials

• Standard A, AA, AAA, C, D (standard or heavy duty) batteries
• 6-volt batteries
• 9-volt batteries
• Button cell batteries
• Rechargeable battery packs (NiCad, NiMH, or lithium ion)

Unaccepted materials

• Automotive batteries
• Damaged, leaking or wet cell batteries
• Industrial batteries

Drop off unacceptable batteries at a waste management facility.

Safe battery storage

Store batteries in a cool, dry place. Store them away from any flammable materials. In storage, battery terminals should not touch conductive materials. Cover the terminals on 9-volt batteries before storing them.

Some buildings have an electronic recycling program. Participating buildings have special collection bins in the building. Ask your building manager if your building takes part in the program.

Accepted materials

• Display devices (televisions and monitors)
• Drones
• Home audio/video systems
• Desktop computers
• Home theatre in-a-box systems
• Cameras and security cameras
• Vehicle audio/video systems (aftermarket)
• Portable Computers
• Personal/portable audio/video systems
• Musical instruments and recording equipment
• Video gaming systems and peripherals
• Computer peripherals (routers, cables, chargers, USB)
• Desktop printing/multi-function devices, 3D printers and printer cartridges
• Phones (telephones, cellular & smart phone devices, pagers)

Do you have old or torn clothing? Participating buildings have special clothing donation boxes. Ask your building manager if your building has a program.

Accepted materials

• All clothing, even ripped or torn items
• Bedding and towels
• Sleeping bags
• Belts and ties
• Drapes, scraps and anything else that is a textile/cloth

As part of the Regional waste management initiative, all buildings receiving Regional garbage collection are required to participate in the Green Bin Program. This program helps reduce waste and promote sustainability by encouraging proper disposal of food waste and other green bin waste.

To make participation easy, each resident will receive an in-unit kitchen container, which is designed for collecting food waste and other green bin materials. Once full, residents can deposit the waste into the building’s designated green bin or appropriate waste chute.

If residents need more in-unit kitchen containers, magnets or brochures, or you have any questions regarding collection, please contact us by email or call 311 (within Regional limits), 905-668-7711 or toll-free 1-800-372-1102.

Tips and tricks for green bin placement

convenient as possible. One key aspect of this is the strategic placement of organic waste bins. By positioning these
bins in easily accessible and visible locations, residents are more likely to engage in the practice of separating their
waste consistently.

Visible and convenient bin placement directly contributes to higher participation rates and the overall success of an
organics diversion program.

• Research shows that the placement of bins is crucial for encouraging participation in food waste separation.
• To promote consistent waste diversion, provide a centralized, easily accessible location for all waste streams.
• Placing organic green bins bins in high-traffic areas where residents frequently pass by will make them more visible and increase usage.

Tips and tricks for the ick factor

The success of an organics diversion program in a multi-residential setting relies heavily on maintaining a clean and
hygienic environment. If residents begin to associate the organic waste bin with unpleasant smells or pests, they are less likely to participate regularly.

Keeping the bins contamination-free, odour-free and pest-free helps foster a positive experience, encouraging residents to consistently use the organics bin and engage in the diversion program.

• Establish a regular cleaning schedule for bins and collection areas.
• Consider lining green bins with certified compostable bags, paper bags, or newspaper can help absorb moisture and reduce odors.
• To keep pests away, consider using biodegradable repellents like detergent around the bin. If maggots appear, sprinkle salt or vinegar to eliminate them.
• To deter animals, try using peppermint oil, cayenne pepper, chili pepper, or hot sauce as natural repellents around the bin.

Tips and tricks for resident participation in the Green Bin program

• When new residents sign their lease, make sure you tell them how the Green Bin program works in your building and provide them with an in-unit kitchen container, magnet and copy of the Know Before You Throw brochure.
• Post signs informing residents where to find the green bin and recycling room.
• Inform residents: use posters and container labels aimed at teaching people how to use the green bin and post them around your building and distribute them directly to your residents.
• Region staff are also available on a limited basis to attend special events and tenant meetings. Please contact us by email or call 311 (within Regional limits), 905-668-7711 or toll-free 1-800-372-1102.

Form a “Green Team”

• Form a “Green Team”: Passionate volunteers can serve as a valuable resource, guiding residents on simple and effective ways to use the green bin and recycle properly.
• This can be particularly empowering when residents have the chance to collaborate with Property Managers in creating the tools and systems that will help promote the green bin program.

Get Social!

• Appoint a Green Bin Ambassador: This person encourages green bin use and helps residents who have trouble getting to the waste room.
• Keep residents informed by sharing green bin and recycling updates at meetings. If you have a newsletter, consider adding a Green Tips section.

Ontario’s recycling program is managed by Circular Materials.

Circular Materials and their local collection contractor will perform the following services:

• Resolve all instances of missed recycling collection.
• Coordinate the repair and replacement of recycling carts.
• Provide all promotion and education materials related to the recycling program for property management and residents.

All recycling related inquiries should be directed to your local contractor, Miller Waste Systems using the following contact information:

• Phone: 1-888-852-4723
• Email: area8@millerwaste.ca

The Region of Durham has partnered with Environmental 360 Solutions Limited (E360) to provide collection containers for used batteries at participating multi-residential properties. These containers, located in lobbies or recycling areas, allow residents to dispose of their batteries safely. E360 offers courier service for collecting full containers on a call-in basis.
Participating buildings must have a full-time superintendent to monitor the containers and prevent non-acceptable materials.

Containers must be placed indoors in a visible, accessible area. When full, building managers arrange for the shipment of batteries to E360 for processing. Contact info is provided on the containers.

Batteries should be stored in a cool, dry area, away from flammable materials, and battery terminals, especially on nine-volt batteries, should be covered.

Safe storage

Batteries should be stored in a cool, dry location, away from any flammable material. During storage, battery terminals should not be in contact with conductive materials. The terminals on nine volt batteries, in particular, should be covered prior to storage.

Battery types accepted

• Standard A, AA, AAA, C, D batteries (both alkaline and “heavy duty”)
• 6-volt (often used in lantern batteries)
• 9-volt batteries (often used in smoke alarms)
• Button cells (typically used in watches, toys, greeting cards, calculators)
• Rechargeable battery packs - NiCad, NiMH, or Lithium Ion (typically used in laptop computers, cellular phones, etc.)

Due to regulatory requirements, only undamaged household batteries are acceptable for collection. Residents with damaged, leaking or wet cell batteries (such as automotive), should place the batteries in a leak-proof container and deliver them to a Regional Waste Management Facility for recycling.

The Region of Durham operates an easy-to-use electronics recycling program in apartment buildings and townhouse neighbourhoods at municipally approved properties. This free recycling service provides residents with a convenient way to recycle their end-of-life or unwanted electronics.

Alta E-Solutions provides storage containers and all materials necessary to promote the program. Residents bring electronics to the designated recycling area for scheduled collection.

Properties are reviewed prior to beginning collection to ensure that safe collection and storage can occur. Indoor storage is recommended to avoid scavenging.

Collection is conducted on a scheduled basis by Alta E-Solutions. Larger items that do not fit into the 95 gallon carts, such as TVs and stereo systems, can be placed beside the carts for collection. Maintenance by onsite staff is required to ensure electronic waste is the only material in the bins.

Diabetes Canada will provide donation bins inside multi-residential sites. Participating buildings are supplied with the bin and Diabetes Canada empties it weekly. Additional collections can be scheduled. All material collected is donated to charity.

Materials accepted

• all clothing, even ripped or torn items
• bedding and towels
• sleeping bags
• belts and ties
• drapes, scraps and anything else that is a textile/cloth

Not all multi-residential properties receive municipal waste service. Approval is granted based on the Region’s Waste Management By-law and Technical and Risk Management Guidelines for waste collection services on private property.

Durham Region provides waste collection services at approved properties in the City of Pickering, Town of Ajax, Townships of Brock, Scugog and Uxbridge and the Municipality of Clarington.

Front-end waste bins are supplied for residential waste only. No renovation and construction waste is accepted in the bins. Waste service can be suspended or cancelled if unacceptable material is continually found in the bins.

Large bulky items should not be placed in the bins but in a designated area so they can be safely collected.

Collection of bulky and metal goods, which includes furniture, appliances, mattresses and other large household items, requires a scheduled pick-up by appointment in the Municipality of Clarington and Townships of Brock, Scugog and Uxbridge only. Buildings located in the City of Pickering and Town of Ajax can place items out on regular collection day.

The property manager or superintendent must make an appointment to have bulky and metal goods collected in Clarington, Brock, Scugog and Uxbridge. Contact us by email or call us at 311 (within Regional limits), 905-668-7711 or toll-free 1-800-372-1102.

For garbage collection in Oshawa and Whitby:

Apartments and townhouses receiving municipal waste collection services in the City of Oshawa and the Town of Whitby, should contact their respective municipal office for information on garbage and bulky goods collection service.

City of Oshawa

905-436-3311

service@oshawa.ca

Town of Whitby

905-668-3437

operations@whitby.ca