Other Resources for Information on Barrie's Organics Collection Program

Organics Collection Information Page from Barrie's 2010 Community Information and Waste Reduction Calendar

For more Information about Barrie's Organics Collection Program and the One Bag/Can Garbage Limit please call 739-4219, email cityinfo@barrie.ca or consult Barrie's 2010 Community Information and Waste Reduction Calendar.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are organics and garbage collected by the same collection truck?

Garbage and organics are collected by a 'split' collection truck. The same collection truck will hold both materials however it does NOT mix these materials together. This split collection truck has two separated units for two different types of materials. The collector places the garbage material into the one side of the truck, and the organics into the other side. They are completely separated and do not get intermixed with each other. A similar split truck also collects your recyclables in which your container items are placed into one separated area, while the paper recyclables are placed into the other separated area. So although it may appear that these items are being mixed together after you spent time separating them, they are not. These trucks are split this way to make the collection more efficient instead of having one designated truck for each separated material. 

How do I keep food scraps from freezing to the collection bins during cold weather?

• If you have a garage, keep your organics cart in it.
• 'Begin By Lining Your Bin!' Line your bin with crumpled newspaper, boxboard, fibre egg cartons, certified compostable bin liners or large paper bags to keep waste from freezing to sides and bottom of the bin.
• Put waste in boxboard, paper bags, certified compostable bin liners or wrap in newspaper before putting in the curbside bin.
• Place lined kitchen organic bin in the freezer, place contents of the kitchen bin in the curbside bin just prior to collection.

What can I do to prevent maggots from forming in my organics container?

Residents have expressed concerns about maggots in their organics containers. Your best line of defense to prevent maggots from appearing in your containers is cleanliness. Please read through the following suggestions on what can be done to decrease the chances of maggots appearing in your containers:

• Wrapping food wastes in newspaper, boxboard or certified compostable bin liners. Before placing food wastes into either of your organics containers, wrap the food wastes in a couple of layers of newspaper or boxboard. Then place the wrapped up items into your containers, (you may wish to also line the containers with a paper bag to provide an extra lining). Other great liner suggestions are provided further on in the FAQ section.
• Freeze or refrigerate food scraps (in newspaper or paper bags or certified compostable bin liners). Then, place them into your organics cart when you are ready to take it out to the curb.
• Keep the lid on your organics cart tightly closed (make sure the latch snaps shut).
• Place your organics cart out for collection every week on your scheduled collection day, even if it's only partially full.
• Rinse and wash out your organics containers regularly with water (water and vinegar mix) and/or a mild cleaning agent especially after collection. Please wash and rinse cart over a landscaped area like lawn or shrubbery, not near gutters or storm drains, as the rinse water might wash down storm drains, etc. which leads directly to local creeks and waterways.
• Store your cart in a well ventilated area.
• When cleaning out your refrigerator try to do it a day or two before your collection day, not the day after your collection.
• Line the bottom of your containers with newspaper (crumpled up), boxboard, fibre egg cartons, or fibre take-out drink trays (i.e. drink trays from Tim Horton's), to keep the material from sticking to the bottom.

If you have discovered maggots in your organics container please try the following measures to get rid of them and/or prevent them from returning:

• Sprinkle salt or vinegar on maggots to kill them. You can also line the outer rim of the cart with salt or vinegar to prevent pests from entering the container through the lid. Rock salt or lime sprinkled in the cart will also help prevent them.
• Diatomaceous Earth is a natural fossil product that kills maggots, slugs, etc. You can use this product to kill any maggots that appear. This product is sold through gardening stores, nurseries, and hydroponic stores. One local location that sells this product is Bradford Greenhouses - Garden Gallery, 4346 County Rd 90 at 27. It retails around $10.00.
• Rinse out your bin with a mild cleaning agent or water/vinegar mix to get rid of any larvae still remaining in the bin.

*Note*: This problem cannot be guaranteed to be totally eliminated. Maggots do occur in these types of environments and therefore it is not an unusual or isolated occurrence. Residents in other municipalities with organics programs have also experienced them, especially in the warmer months. Before we had the organics program, it was a common occurrence for maggots to appear in residents' garbage bags or containers. Maggots are insect larvae, and if you should happen to find maggots in your container that means that a fly was able to lay eggs on some exposed waste. Maggots have a 7-day life cycle.

What are some other acceptable liners that can be used?

Acceptable Liners for Organics Containers	Description
PAPER GROCERY STORE BAGS	Ask your local grocer to package your purchases into PAPER BAGS instead of plastic bags. These Paper Bags are durable, and if you continue to ask for paper bags you will have an available supply of paper liners for your containers.
PAPER LIQUOR STORE BAGS	If you make a purchase at the liquor store, have them package your items into their paper bags, and use those bags as liners for your containers.
FAST FOOD PAPER BAGS/ TAKE-OUT PAPER FOOD BAGS	When purchasing fast food/take-out food most restaurants will package your orders into paper bags. Hang on to these paper bags and use them as a liner for your containers.
BAKERY PAPER BAGS	When purchasing items at the bakery ask for your purchases to be packaged into paper bags.
BOXBOARD	Empty boxboard boxes such as cereal boxes, cracker boxes, granola/breakfast bar boxes can all be used to line your kitchen container.
PAPER LEAF AND YARD WASTE BAGS	Paper leaf and yard waste bags are available at many retailers and are acceptable liners that can be used to line your Organics Wheeled Cart.
CERTIFIED COMPOSTABLE BIN LINERS
NEWSPAPER	Wrap your organics materials into newspaper before placing it into your containers. Also use newspaper to line your containers, or place at the bottom of your containers to absorb moisture.

Can Leaf and Yard Waste be placed in the Organics Containers?

No, do not place leaf and yard waste in your organics containers. If you place leaf and yard waste in your organics container for collection your organics cart will not be emptied.

Your leaf and yard waste items will be collected by another designated collection truck, so please continue to set out leaf and yard waste separately on the appropriate day. For information on leaf and yard waste collection please follow this link - Leaf and Yard Waste Collection

Why are plastic bags, diapers and bathroom items not accepted in Barrie's Organics Collection Program?

These items are not accepted in Barrie's Organics Program because the end-product made from all Organic material collected will be a high grade composting product used in agriculture and soil remediation applications. The processor that will be receiving all of Barrie's collected organic material will not accept plastics in their composting product because it will contaminate the end product being produced. Processors that accept plastics must screen them out and regardless, the end product is a much lower grade of compost sometimes making it useful only as landfill cover, and therefore defeating the purpose of implementing an Organics Diversion Program.

Plastic Bags - Since plastic bags are not accepted in Barrie's Organics Program, residents are encouraged to use fibre based products or certified compostable bin liners as liners if they wish. You may also wish to wrap your organics in newspaper before placing them in the kitchen organics bin. This will help to reduce odours and absorb moisture.

When do residents place their Organics Cart curbside for collection?

Wheeled Organics Carts will be accepted on your normal weekly collection day. Materials must be placed curbside by 7:00 a.m. as in all other curbside collection programs. Organics Carts must not exceed 20kgs (45lbs). Residential curbside garbage limit is (one) 1 bag/can per household per week. Additional garbage bags/containers over the 1 bag limit must have 1 (one) pink $2.00 garbage tag affixed in order for it to be collected. For information on Barrie's One Bag Limit and for Garbage Tag Retail Locations please follow this link: Garbage Collection Information.