Helpful Hints & Tips for GreenCart

GreenCart material is collected every week on your collection day.
Put your GreenCart out at the curb every week, even if it is only partially full.
Only put your GreenCart at the curb. Do not place your Kitchen Catcher or compostable bags at the curb; the Kitchen Catcher is more likely to blow away in the wind and compostable bags may leak or break apart, they are only meant to be liners.
Ensure the GreenCart lid is closed and locked.
Remove any additional locking mechanisms such as bungee cords when placing your GreenCart at the curb.
If you choose to line your GreenCart, you can use newspapers, flyers, cardboard boxes, paper yard waste bags, paper food waste bags, and certified compostable bags with the BPI logo.
GreenCart material in regular plastic bags, oxo-biodegradable bags or any bag without the BPI compostable logo will not be collected.

If you have too much organic material to fit into your GreenCart, place extra organic material in a paper food waste bag or BPI certified compostable bag, and put the bag on top of your GreenCart for collection.

To avoid items sticking to the bottom of your GreenCart, wrap material in newspaper, or place material in paper bags or in BPI certified compostable bags. This reduces moisture and helps prevent freezing.
To clean your GreenCart take a bucket of hot water with mild soap, pour into the GreenCart, swish and empty the water in your garden or lawn. Try to keep water away from sidewalks and walkways. After cleaning, ensure the GreenCart is dry before placing material inside.
Put material with high water content, such as fruit inside a cracker box or milk carton (no plastic spout). This can prevent these materials from freezing to the sides of the GreenCart.

Ensure the GreenCart lid is closed and locked.
Avoid insects and other pests by sprinkling a handful of salt, garden lime, baking soda or powdered ginger in the GreenCart or Kitchen Catcher.
Wrap food waste in newspaper or soiled paper towels or place in a cardboard box like a cracker or cereal box.
Wrap meat and bones in paper and add additional layers of paper to the GreenCart each time you empty your Kitchen Catcher.
To reduce odours, clean out your fridge the day before GreenCart collection.
Store meat, poultry, fish and bones in the freezer until your collection day.
Empty the contents of your Kitchen Catcher into your GreenCart daily.
Store your GreenCart where you store your regular garbage container (in the garage or at the side of your home). Keep it out of direct sunlight.
To reduce odour and minimize mess, you can line your Kitchen Catcher and GreenCart with newspaper, cardboard, paper towels, a paper bag or a certified compostable bag.

Wrap food waste in newspaper or soiled paper towels or place in a cardboard box like a cracker or cereal box.
Avoid insects and other pests by sprinkling a handful of salt, garden lime, baking soda or powdered ginger in the GreenCart or Kitchen Catcher.
Wrap meat and bones in paper and add additional layers of paper to the GreenCart each time you empty your Kitchen Catcher.
Clean out your fridge the day before GreenCart collection.
To reduce odours, store meat, poultry, fish and bones in the freezer until your collection day. Wrap meat and bones in paper and add additional layers of paper to the GreenCart. Use a paper milk carton (without a plastic spout) to collect fats and oils.
To determine whether paper products are compostable and can go into the GreenCart – give them a rip. If the paper product is difficult to rip, or if there is visible plastic or metallic lining, it cannot go in the GreenCart.

Store your Kitchen Catcher in a convenient location in your kitchen (on the counter, under the sink or mounted to the inside of the cupboard door).
Empty the contents of your Kitchen Catcher into your GreenCart daily.
Store your GreenCart where you store your regular garbage container (in the garage or at the side of your home). Keep it out of direct sunlight.

Wash your GreenCart and Kitchen Catcher with mild detergent as required. The Kitchen Catcher is dishwasher safe.
To reduce odour and minimize mess, you can line your Kitchen Catcher and GreenCart with newspaper, cardboard, paper towels, a paper bag or a certified compostable bag.