When new garbage regulations that require the separation of food scraps kick in on July 3, it is really important to create a system that is simple to execute.
You can use:
1. A "working" container holding approximately one litre nearby as you prepare vegetables for cooking. This can be emptied into the kitchen-catcher, or taken to your at home compost bin, and/or;
2. A kitchen-catcher bin, approximately one gallon, into which you will put any food to go for collection. This one just needs to have a tight lid to control odour. Some have a charcoal insert in the lid.
3. A container for road side collection - for food scraps on their own, or big enough to also have yard trimmings. It needs to have a secure lid to prevent rodents, ravens, and dogs.
A variation on this theme, is to put the kitchen-catcher inside your normal garbage can, you will be using it on different days anyways, and you do not really need two big cans.
Another variation is to put the food scraps into your normal lidded yard trimmings bin (not the paper bag many people use).
You cannot use any kind of a plastic bag, even one that is labeled compostable.
But you can use: paper bags or bags made of newspaper; approved "Bag to Earth" bags that will control moisture; or just put some paper in the bottom of your container to make it easier to clean. The food scraps can be in your container loose.
If you are concerned about odours, wrap your scraps in paper and freeze them until collection day. That way you also prevent animals and birds from smelling a potential feed.
For more info, please see http://bimrecycles.ca and scroll down to find Frequently Asked Questions.
