Brown Bin slide presentation - translation

The implantation of organic waste material collection within the Laurentian School System

Presentation
Perspective:
Planning the collection of organic waste material in the MRC des Laurentides
Implementation of a collection system in the schools and the board office
Student education and awareness activities.

Perspective

The Quebec policy on Waste Management

Aim for zero waste in landfills
Objective: that the only waste material in Quebec will be absolutely unrecyclable material
By 2020, the provincial policy will prohibit the disposal of organic waste in landfills

Why should we collect organic waste?

• Reduce the amount of material in landfills which have a limited life;
• Reduce greenhouse gases (biogas escaping from landfills);
• Produce compost to enrich the soil.

WHAT WE THROW AWAY

4% Absolutely unrecyclable waste
14% Recyclable in Ecocenters
37% Regular recyclable material
45% Organic waste

THE BROWN BAC AND THE COLLECTION OF ORGANIC MATTER

Approximately one million people use a brown bin in Quebec

Composting 101

ORGANIC MATTER
Green residues (grass, leaves)
Food waste
Organic matter decomposes and is transformed into compost
ACCEPTABLE WASTE

FRESH, FROZEN, DRIED, COOKED AND PREPARED FOODS AND OTHER TABLE REMNANTS
Food (cooked, raw or spoiled)
Fruit and vegetables
Meat, fish and bones. Pasta, bread, cereals. Dairy products

Crab and lobster shells

Egg shells
Flour, sugar, candies and confectionery.
Tea and herbal tea (sachets and leaves)
Coffee (grains, marcs and filters)
Nut shells
Dirty cardboard plates or cups
Dirty food cardboard (pizza, etc.)
Dirty paper towels and napkins

OTHER
Dirty tissue paper
Litter of small animals (cat, rabbit and hamster)
Human and animal hair
Tobacco and cigarette paper
Cigarettes and cigarillos (without filter)
Pet food
4 week old ashes

GREEN WASTE
Grass, sawdust, bark, chips, small branches, indoor plants
Dead leaves, garden residue, coniferous needles, hedge trimmings, weeds.

UNACCEPTABLE WASTE
Dangerous domestic waste – RDD
(oil, paint, batteries, pesticides fertilizer)
Tires
Wax paper, dental floss, candles, wax and chewing gum and corks
Invasive exotic plants (hogweed, Japanese knotweed)
Rocks, pebbles and stones
Textiles
Dead animals
Construction materials, glass, glasses, metal
Vacuum dust, dryer lint, dryer sheets
Throw away broom sheets (Swiffer type)
Plastic and other recyclable material
Diapers,hygiene products and medications

Recommended methods
Use paper bags
Do not use compostable or biodegradable plastic bags
Inside the bin, alternate wet materials with dry green residues
Maintain and clean the brown bin:
◦ Rinse the bin
◦ Sprinkle regularly with baking soda
◦ Clean the tray regularly with a little water and white vinegar

To avoid odors
Make newspaper “lasagne”
Dry the green residues before putting them in the bin
Keep the bin in the shade
Put the bin out for all pick-ups, regardless of the amount of material
Rinse the bin after each pick-up

To avoid insects
Wrap leftover meat, poultry or fish in newspaper or a paper bag
Keep meat residue in the fridge or freezer until pick-up day
If white grubs appear, remove them by pouring some salt or vinegar into the bin
Rinse the bin after each pick-up

To keep animals away

Apply a menthol cream or cough ointment (Vicks) around the lid
Fasten the lid with an elastic cord (remove the day of the pick-up)

To avoid freezing
In winter, cover the bottom of the brown bin with a layer of newspaper or a piece of cardboard
Use a large paper bag as a liner in the brown bin
Avoid liquids to prevent materials from sticking and freezing

And greenhouse gases?

Is it true that adding trucks on the road to collect organic waste causes an increase in greenhouse gases?

Buried organic waste

Biogas = greenhouse gases
◦ 50-75% methane
◦ 25-45% carbon dioxide
◦ According to several studies, the amount of GHG emitted by buried organic matter is much greater than the
amount of GHG emitted by the trucks
COLLECTING AND TREATING ORGANIC WASTE IS BETTER THAN BURYING IT

Organic waste collection implementation plan:

2016: - Val-David
2018: - Labelle
- La Conception
- Lake Superior
- The Minerve
- Saint-Faustin-Lac-Carré
- Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts
- Saint Lucie-des-Laurentides
- Val-des-Lacs
2019: - Mont-Tremblant
- Lac-Tremblant-Nord
2020:
Amherst, Arundel, Barkmere, Brébeuf, Huberdeau
Ivry-sur-le-Lac, Val-Morin

Implementation of organic waste collection in the schools and board office

Year - Town / City School
2016 Val-David Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Sainte Marie
2018 Labelle Le Tremplin
The Minerve La Relève
Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts Board Office
CFG des Cimes
CFP des Sommets
Fleur des Neiges
Lionel-Groulx
Monseigneur Bazinet
Notre-Dame-de-la-Sagesse
Polyvalente des Monts
2019 Mont-Tremblant CFG des Cimes
Curé-Mercure
Fleur-Soleil
La Ribambelle
L'Odyssée
Tournesol
Trois-Saisons
2020 Amhurst Le Carrefour
Huberdeau L’Arc-en-Ciel
Organic waste treatment centers

Implementation within the school system

Other things to consider from an operational point of view

Possible locations in the schools for organic waste collection

Classes
Cafeteria
Kitchen
Toilets (brown paper)
St-Jean-Baptist school – A mini bin in each class, pail in the kitchen, mini bin in the cafeteria, exterior bins

Other considerations:

Procedure for small bins to 240 liter bins (a designated student empties the contents of the mini-bin into the
brown bin)
Number of 240 liter bins required
◦ SJB: 3 brown bins for 350 students (15 groups)
Number of mini-bins needed
Coordination with the municipality ensured by the MRC

Training, education and awareness

Training
◦ Teaching staff
◦ Support staff
◦ Students

Documentation
◦ Info-Parents
◦ Posters
◦ Etc.

Awareness
Workshops
Making posters
 Contests
Etc.

The next steps

Define the needs by school:
◦ Number of brown bins
◦ Number of mini-bins

Prepare an action plan:

◦ Define priorities (kitchen, cafeteria, classes, etc.)
◦ Timeline