Ongoing Calgarians throwing things into the wrong bins thread

[Violator]

They are sitting down in the old auction site on 52 and 94ave.looks pretty crazy how many they have purchased must of cost the city a pretty penny

[zamler]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

Cool. We have some large absorbent pads at work that might be good for the bottom of the bin

What are they made from? Might not be suitable material. I don't use any compostable bags except for the ones that the kitchen bin uses and if I run out of space in the big bin. Which won't be much a problem now that the original pilot program bins have been replaced by a much larger one.

I don't bother lining the bottom if stuff sticks no big deal you can soak it for a bit it comes out clean enough. I find very little actually sticks to the bottom anyway.

[llwhiteoutll]

Is there a decent source for the compostable bags?

Also, does anyone know if the city offers smaller versions of all the bins? It's only me at my place and it would take me over a month to fill any of the current sized ones, I'd rather have the garage space

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by llwhiteoutll

Is there a decent source for the compostable bags?

Also, does anyone know if the city offers smaller versions of all the bins? It's only me at my place and it would take me over a month to fill any of the current sized ones, I'd rather have the garage space

You can get the compostable bags at any grocery store. I think most chains even have a cheaper store brand option. When they launched the pilot program in southwood years ago they included 100 compostable bags, haven't heard if they are doing that again though.

[zamler]

Originally Posted by llwhiteoutll

Is there a decent source for the compostable bags?

Walmart has cheap compostable bags that fit in the kitchen bin and they have no added scent. Look for the "Great Value" green and white box 80 bags. Costs about the same as the Glad box that has 20 bags and they smell like rotten mint. FYI not all Walmart locations seem to have these bags I bought them at Westbrook which also carries these delicious German pickles I have not seen at other locations.

The city took away my smaller bin, sorry. BTW Canadian Tire used to sell really cheap compostable bags, like $2.50 for a big box that product vanished from their shelves. Big Recycle got to someone.

edit - last one on the list

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by zamler

Walmart has cheap compostable bags that fit in the kitchen bin and they have no added scent. Look for the "Great Value" green and white box 80 bags. Costs about the same as the Glad box that has 20 bags and they smell like rotten mint. FYI not all Walmart locations seem to have these bags I bought them at Westbrook which also carries these delicious German pickles I have not seen at other locations.

The city took away my smaller bin, sorry.

Shop from anywhere but Walmart

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by zamler

What are they made from? Might not be suitable material. I don't use any compostable bags except for the ones that the kitchen bin uses and if I run out of space in the big bin. Which won't be much a problem now that the original pilot program bins have been replaced by a much larger one.

I don't bother lining the bottom if stuff sticks no big deal you can soak it for a bit it comes out clean enough. I find very little actually sticks to the bottom anyway.

I don't know what they are made of but it probably isn't compostable but if my bin becomes a mess I might try a pad.

For bags, we bought the ones from Walmart. They are really cheap and do a good job. We also bought the ones from Costco thinking it would be the cheapest option but returned those after finding the Walmart stuff.

[Amethyst]

Are these bags available everywhere? I haven't notice them before, but I wasn't looking for them in particular. I don't shop at Walmart or Costco.

[Ashartus]

For the kitchen bin you can also line with newspaper instead of buying bags (the City website has suggestions on how to do that). I haven't bothered using large bags in the green bin itself and haven't had any issues yet, if stuff starts to stick to the bottom I'll just hose it out.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Amethyst

Are these bags available everywhere? I haven't notice them before, but I wasn't looking for them in particular. I don't shop at Walmart or Costco.

Here is a list from the city:
https://www.calgary.ca/UEP/WRS/Pages...nd-liners.aspx

[Erick Estrada]

We tried the kitchen bin thing but I have a bit of that cleanliness OCD and I can't handle the smell. I can smell it on my main floor the moment I walk into the house. Wrapping it in newspaper isn't good enough.

[Amethyst]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

Here is a list from the city:
https://www.calgary.ca/UEP/WRS/Pages...nd-liners.aspx

Thank-you! This is what I was looking for and could never find. All I kept finding was info about when bins would be delivered, etc. which doesn't really matter to me as I figure I will know it's been delivered when I see it sitting in front of my house.

[InglewoodFan]

Amazon has these that I am going to try out once my current stash is depleted. (Bought more of the Glad ones like they gave out with green bin not knowing any different)

My green bin has been has been full to the brim last couple of weeks with a backlog of mostly branches from tree and shrub trimming. Just keep working the pile down.

[Caged Great]

I really like the green bins. Once the plant cuttings go away, I doubt I'll ever fill it more than 1/4 of the way, but it's helpful regardless. I'm only tossing about 1 bag every 10 days into the actual garbage instead of every third day with the food waste. I'm not bothering to put compost bags in the bin. Easier to just wash it out every day once it fills up.

[Amethyst]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

I really like the green bins. Once the plant cuttings go away, I doubt I'll ever fill it more than 1/4 of the way, but it's helpful regardless. I'm only tossing about 1 bag every 10 days into the actual garbage instead of every third day with the food waste. I'm not bothering to put compost bags in the bin. Easier to just wash it out every day once it fills up.

You don't have a problem with flies and such? I used to live in Hungary and people there often didn't bag stuff first and the bin was so smelly and disgusting and covered with flies and other bugs it was awful to walk by it. Now, this was an open bin for an entire building, and people threw all garbage into it, so maybe that wouldn't happen with a closed bin for my house only, but I'm worried the green bin will get disgusting in a hurry if it's full of loose food scraps and dog poop.

Keeping scraps loose in a kitchen bin that I can empty and wash daily doesn't sound as bad.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Cat Owners: what are you using to scoop kitty litter into before putting it into your green bin?

I was about to use old Amazon boxes but realized that the box tape they use is plastic fiber reinforced.

Most of the compostable bag options can't see to take any weight, let alone the jagged edges of a clump.

Paper grocery bags would seem to be ideal but I can't seem to get any. Will Safeway / Coop bag in paper bags if asked? Buying paper grocery bags seems to be impossible, unless in lots of 500.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Amethyst

You don't have a problem with flies and such? I used to live in Hungary and people there often didn't bag stuff first and the bin was so smelly and disgusting and covered with flies and other bugs it was awful to walk by it. Now, this was an open bin for an entire building, and people threw all garbage into it, so maybe that wouldn't happen with a closed bin for my house only, but I'm worried the green bin will get disgusting in a hurry if it's full of loose food scraps and dog poop.

Keeping scraps loose in a kitchen bin that I can empty and wash daily doesn't sound as bad.

I keep the lid shut unless I am opening it to dump stuff in. There are a few flies, but it's minimal. It does smell quite a bit, but I think that would happen regardless if you bag the stuff or not as the black bin that I have had for a long while reeks too. Might have to eventually wash them out as well with the power washer, but I'm not too worried about that right now.

If I left the green bin open, it would get awful in no time.

[Iceman90]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

the black bin that I have had for a long while reeks too.

My black bin smelled aweful most of the summer. Last week I sprinkled a generous helping of baking soda at the bottom and let it sit. Then this week it smelled a lot better, but for good measure I emptied a box of baking soda, and a litre of vinegar - closed the lit and let it sit. Today I washed and rinsed with the hose, and it smells as good as new.

[RedHot25]

Originally Posted by I-Hate-Hulse

Cat Owners: what are you using to scoop kitty litter into before putting it into your green bin?

I was about to use old Amazon boxes but realized that the box tape they use is plastic fiber reinforced.

Most of the compostable bag options can't see to take any weight, let alone the jagged edges of a clump.

Paper grocery bags would seem to be ideal but I can't seem to get any. Will Safeway / Coop bag in paper bags if asked? Buying paper grocery bags seems to be impossible, unless in lots of 500.

Not a cat owner but pretty sure I saw co op or Safeway - or both - had paper bags for sale. Big ones for yard waste, and smaller ones too. In addition to garbage area, check in food storage area - paper lunch bags are an idea.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

I'm afraid paper lunch bags are way too small and flimsy to hold up to 1 week's worth of scooped kitty litter from 2 cats. We're talking about 15-20 lbs of jagged clumps (I scoop weekly for 2 cats).

Here's what I've found so far - Home Depot / Walmart have large "bag to earth" bags - these are lined with some sort of compostable film that makes them waterproof. Size is about 36L. These are about $7 for 5, or $1.40 each. That's too rich for me.

The usual monstrous 80L yard waste bags are about $0.50 cents. These are absolute overkill, but at $0.50 cents I'm better off dollarwise using these as these are the only compostable and weight capable bags out there that come at a price I can live with.

Unless I can find a grocery stores that still offers "paper" and not just plastic...