I Will Miss You Mr. Happy Green Bin

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Wed, 11 May 2011 02:54:23 +0000

Yes, I will miss his happy face always greeting me on the Thursday afternoon. This was my first and the last picture of the Green Bin I took in Aurora. I think it was a very cool logo and it was fun for children to see. I would naturally smile whenever I saw the truck driving by. I will miss you Mr. Happy Green Bin.

Green Bin Truck

The Green Bin logo is not on the truck anymore, at least the one that passes my house. The Green Bin Is In campaign is gone. The Compostable Get It Yourself Bag Is In campaign kicked in about two months ago, if I am not mistaken. It is really dull, blank, boring and empty. What does it take to make a happy compostable bag. The green bin and the compostable bag – that is a prefect pair.

However, I am glad that they put refreshing light green background on the truck and not the red demanding one. I don’t know if anyone remembers the first red ads that came out in The Banner – demanding, dictatorial and stringent.

York Region toned it all down recently.

The red message for mandatory compostable bag in the green bin is gone.

‘They make the perfect pair. Use compostable bags in your Green Bin. Compostable bags are mandatory as of May 1, 2011.’

Now the green message. A much softer voice to the consumers.

‘Will my Green Bin waste be left behind. …. As we continue this mandatory program over the next year, Green Bin waste will not be left behind. Program participation will be reviewed throughout the year. Enforcements needs, if any, will be determined at a later date.’

Red Vs. Green

Its been about three weeks and the compostable bags are not that bad as I thought. I am not convinced about diapers, dog poop and hygiene products going into compost, but hey that is better than nothing.

I feel like my composting also gotten better. I am trying not to produce unnecessary waste. May be because before I was eating less and composting more, and now I am eating more and composting less. Good bye Mr. Happy Green Bin.

Update May 19, 2011 – I looked outside through my window this afternoon and I saw big red poster on the compost truck. I guess they are using the red blob of color.

Diapers? We Need Compost-Able Bags And Not Compostable Bags

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 04:56:38 +0000

Placing diapers in the compostable bag – I am not convinced. I would rather put diapers in the ‘compost-able’ bag that aids to decompose the content within. Still, I am not convinced that diapers should be going to the green bin at all. I did some searching on the net, and I thought I will express here in this post how I feel about the green bin program and introduction of the compostable bags.

The very angry feeling I have is that, just another cost passed on to the consumer. Never mind I feel for the dog owners, according the York Region’s Green Bin Program FAQ – pet owners will have to use the compostable bags for the pet waste.

The York Region’s Green Bin program defines the difference between the compostable and biodegradable products, and organic waste as follows:

What is the difference between compostable and biodegradable? Biodegradable plastic bags are made with a chemical additive that breaks down the plastic film into smaller pieces. These smaller pieces will not compost and become a contaminant in the finished compost. Compostable bags are made from plant-based materials that will break down entirely into compost.

What is Organic Waste? Organic materials are compostable, meaning they break down naturally using micro-organisms found in the natural environment to make compost, a nutrient-rich, soil-like material that enhances soil structure and improves plant growth when added to your garden or landscaping project. Food, yard waste and certain paper products as well as pet waste are all considered organic materials.

Note diapers are not mentioned in the organic waste.

Definitions are simple and clear. Now let us look at the diaper company Pampers and how they talk about their sustainability initiatives:

Can you compost Pampers diapers? For safety reasons, used diapers and other personal care products are not suitable for home composting systems. They are generally compatible with commercial-scale composting, such as mechanical-biological treatment facilities.

Now according to the Green Bin Program we do not have such a mechanical-biological treatment facility, just biological one.

Note that some diapers have cloth like cover material and Velcro-like fasteners. I don’t know about you, but I have trouble understanding how Velcro-like fasteners can be compostable?

Okay here is the Green Bin program composting process defined.

How Does it Get Processed? Existing micro-organisms in the food waste break down the material naturally producing compost. The material goes through an initial rapid breakdown known as the thermophilic stage. This process creates heat that pasteurizes or sterilizes the compost, ridding the material of any pathogens or harmful bacteria. It’s this pasteurization phase that allows York Region to accept animal feces and diapers in its Green Bin and still produce a compost that’s safe to use.

The only good thing about the process I find that it pasteurizes or sterilizes the compost. Still, I am not convinced how this process will decompose the personal hygiene products that include diapers and sanitary products. I looked up Kotex for hygiene products and I couldn’t find any references that their products are biodegradable or compostable.

Definitely there are flaws with every system that claims to be environmentally friendly. The good thing is that we are doing something. Something is always better than nothing, but that something better not end up in my garden, because I am still not convinced about the hygiene products in the green bin.

Wait I think I found something here as I read Compostable Bag Frequently Asked Questions.

Does York Region still accept diapers in plastics bags? Diapers bagged in plastic film such as the plastic used in the Diaper Genie are not acceptable in the Green Bin. We strongly encourage residents to place their diapers in the Green Bin using a compostable bag. The other option for diapers bagged in plastic is to place these in the garbage.

Oh, back to landfill. Never mind if we double bag our compost now, their very first mechanical screening process cannot handle double bags, so it goes to the landfill. I just wonder how efficient their process is at all? That is how much of our compost does really get to be composted.

And just in case you did not know, there will be some odour with compostable bags. Oh no, more odours to what I have now! However, they have solution, unfortunately for travellers only.

Will there be more odours with compostable bags? The material you are collecting in the compostable bag is the same material you were collecting in plastic bags. As with any bag, if organic waste is left too long it may produce an odour. It is recommended that you empty your in-house kitchen container regularly. If you know you will be away for a while, an option is to store your organics in the freezer until collection day to reduce the chance of odours.

I am sounding like a broken record; however, technically speaking I am not convinced that the York Region’s Green Bin program is effective as stated. The introduction of compostable bags is just another cost passed on the consumers. Manufacturers and retailers will be making money no matter what. No doubt that the meaningless logo is a money maker. Now with compostable bags, the mechanical screening process should be eliminated – a sound cost reduction step at the processing facility. Aha, there is an idea – I demand free compostable bags supplied to us.
SOURCES:
1] York Region’s Green Bin Program
2] Compostable Bag – Frequently Asked Questions
3] Pampers Sustainability – Frequently Asked Questions

Living in Aurora, Town of Aurora, Ontario » Green Bin

I Will Miss You Mr. Happy Green Bin

Diapers? We Need Compost-Able Bags And Not Compostable Bags