Green Bin / Yard Waste

A. Please see our Solid Waste Collection Guide for a full list of items that can be included in your green bin. 

You can also view What Goes in the Compost Bin?

Fun Fact: By using the green bin or a backyard composter, you can cut your household waste by up to 35%, save on garbage tags, and prevent compostable materials from taking up valuable landfill space and reducing groundwater quality.

When is the Green Bin collected?

A. Your green bin is collected on a weekly basis all year round. Place your green bin out at the curb on your regular collection day (see the Waste Collection Routes and Schedule). Your green bin does not require a garbage tag.

Do I need to line my Green Bin with a bag?

A. No. We do suggest that you line your green bin with newspaper if you do not use a bag. This prevents contents from sticking/freezing to the bottom.   

A. You must use a certified compostable bag, which will have either of the logos shown below on the bag and box.

Please note: Plastic grocery bags, recycling green bags or bags identified as oxo-biodegradable are not accepted.

A. Broken kitchen containers and green bins are replaced free of charge at the Waste Diversion Site, located at 100 Kitchener St. 

If you wish to purchase a new or additional kitchen container or Green Bin, please visit our Solid Waste Fees page for pricing.

A. The City's waste collector (Mid Ontario Disposal) uses divided co-collection trucks to collect garbage and green bin/yard waste in separate compartments of the same truck.
Green bin/yard waste is dropped off separately at our compost site located at the Waste Diversion Site where it is processed into compost. The purpose of using co-collection vehicles is to reduce collection costs by reducing the number of collection vehicles on the road. 

Click here to view the Green Bin and Recycling Collection Program for Apartments and Businesses pamphlets.

If you are a property manager, please click here to view the City's Apartment Recycling Handbook. It provides details on participating in the City's recycling cart and green bin collection programs at apartments and condos.

1. Set the green bin out every week (even if it is half full) so the organic material does not sit long giving the maggots time to develop.
2. In order to survive, maggots need a source of water. Therefore, keeping your food scraps as dry as possible really helps.  This can be accomplished by:
   • Draining any liquids from your food scrap before placing in your kitchen container or green bin.
   • Place used paper towels and tissues in with your food scraps as they help absorb the moisture.
   • If you have a large amount of food scraps, such as a turkey carcass, fold it in several sheets of newspaper and wrap it into a small package before tossing it in your green bin.
3. If maggots develop, sprinkle baking soda on your food scraps.
4. Keep your kitchen container and green bin clean. This is best accomplished by lining your kitchen container or your green bin with:
   • A few layers of newspaper. Newspaper also absorbs excess moisture.
   • A paper bag or a certified compostable bag with at least one of the logos noted below:

1. Drain excess liquid from food before emptying into your container and/or sprinkle baking soda on your food scraps.
2. Keep your kitchen container and green bin clean. To clean, mix baking soda with water to form a cleaning paste to scrub and deodorize the container.
3. To capture fruit flies, fill a bowl of vinegar and cover with plastic wrap with several small holes punched in it. Empty as required.
4. Line Your kitchen container or green bin with:

• A few layers of newspaper or place several sheets of newspaper on the counter, scrape your food scraps onto this and wrap it into a small package before tossing it in your green bin. Newspaper absorbs excess moisture, and reduces odours and fruit flies.
• Use a paper bag or a certified compostable bag with at least one of the logos noted below:

1. Empty as much liquid as possible from your food scraps before placing in your green bin. The freezing liquid is what causes the sticking problem.
2. Place your food scraps on some newspaper or in a paper bag and wrap this up into a ball and place in your green bin. This will help keep it dry.
3. Line your green bin with a few layers of newspaper or paper bags.
4. Remember that paper towels and tissues are accepted in the green bin and help absorb food liquids.
5. If you already line your green bin with a certified compostable bag (with the noted logos pictured above), please follow one of the other additional tips listed above. On its own, the compostable bag may still freeze to the side of the bin. No twist ties or plastic bags please.

Please remove all lights, wire, tinsel, ornaments, nails, metal/wood tree stands and other materials that are not part of the original tree.  No plastic bags please.  Trees will be taken to the Waste Diversion Site to be mulched and composted.

A. You can use paper or certified compostable bags (see logos below) or a labelled yard waste container.  Free labels are available at the Waste Diversion Site located at 100 Kitchener Street.

Please note: Clear plastic bags are no longer accepted for leaf and yard waste. For more information See our Frequently Asked Questions page regarding this policy.

Helpful tips:

1. Bag usage can be greatly reduced by mulching leaves before bagging them, leaving the mulched leaves on your lawn or by backyard composting the leaves.

2. Grass clippings require a garbage tag.  The garbage tag is to be placed on top of the grass clippings in a paper bag. For grass clippings in compostable bags, the tag can be attached to the top of the bag to form a flag. 

A. Please see our Solid Waste Collection Guide for a full list of items accepted in the City's yard waste collection program.

Please note: Grass clippings are the only yard waste item requiring a garbage tag for collection.

How do I dispose of grass clippings?

A. Grass clippings are accepted at the curb for yard waste collection only if the bag or can is tagged with a City of Orillia garbage tag.

Please note:

1. Ideally, grass clippings should be left on your lawn. Simply keep your mower blade sharp, cut when the grass is dry, set your mower at the proper height (2.5" - 3"), and mow regularly. Use a mower with a mulching blade for the best results.
2. Grass clippings can be composted in your backyard composter.
3. Orillia residents can drop off grass clippings for free at the Waste Diversion Site. There is a tipping fee for businesses dropping off grass clippings. 
4. Grass clippings set out at the curb need to be tagged as follows:

• For a Compostable Bag - attach the tag over the twist tie to form a flag.
• For a Paper Bag - leave the bag open and place the tag on top of the grass clippings.
• For a Can - place the tag on top of the grass clippings (not on the lid). 

Fun Fact: Leaving grass clippings on your lawn does not cause thatch or spread lawn diseases, and won't damage your lawn when you mow regularly and at the proper height. The grass plant's nutrients can then naturally be recycled to the soil, which helps lawns become healthier.  So don't spend your time raking and bagging!   

No garbage tag is required for setting out leaves or other yard waste. 

Leaves are picked up year-round at curbside. No garbage tags are needed. Place your leaves in an acceptable container at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your regular collection day.

Acceptable Containers:

• Paper yard waste bags
• Certified compostable bags
• Clearly marked rigid containers
• Leaves raked to the curb or ditch will not be collected
• Leaves will not be collected if they are in orange, green, or black bags or if they weigh more than 20 kgs/44lbs.

Orillia residents can also take leaves to the Waste Diversion Site for composting. There is no charge and no weight limit.