Ongoing Calgarians throwing things into the wrong bins thread

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

How long does it take you guys to fill the small kitchen bin? I think I go through at least one a week. Between coffee filters, napkins, food scraps, it fills up quick.

The small bin grey bin, I go through it at least once a day.

[llwhiteoutll]

Originally Posted by troutman

I observed my neighbor from across the street taking his dog to crap behind my garage, and putting the turds in my black bin. Why not use your own alley and bin? So rude.

The bins are owned by the city, so he's technically using a city bin to dispose of it.

[Lubicon]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

If you mow your lawn frequently enough why not just leave the clippings on the lawn?

Originally Posted by Barnes

Yeah, seems crazy to spend money to turn water and fertilizer into grass, cut it and throw it away.

Valid point and probably worth considering. For now the answer lies with bagging it prevents the pets and kids from bringing it back into the house on their feet when they have been in the yard. So yeah, mainly an esthetic reason.

[redforever]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

How long does it take you guys to fill the small kitchen bin? I think I go through at least one a week. Between coffee filters, napkins, food scraps, it fills up quick.

I filled that up at least once every two days. I encountered two problems, and solved both.

I already had a tall slim garbage can under my sink, the type that pulls out, and the small bin the city provided would have meant I would have had to remove the bin I already had.

And, at the present time, I could not find proper sized compostable bags for my existing bin under my sink in Calgary. All the stores said they thought they would be available in the future but at the present time, they stocked the small bags for the bin the city provided.

So I went on Amazon, found these, and they work great in my existing bin. A little big for my bin but not much.

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

People aren't using compost bags? Weird. I just picked up the ones that fit the kitchen bucket they gave us, I haven't had an issue with flies/stink/stuff sticking to the green bin.

I fill up the kitchen bucket frequent enough that it doesn't sit there and stink, in fact I think it stinks less than the garbage used to.

In my area, there are many multiplex and thus individuals share the bins. Someone in my unit started using their green bin and dumped grass clippings directly into his/her bin. I was wondering if people generally put a bag into that green bin.

Once I use my composting bin, I will probably empty it every 2-3 days. I've read a bit saying most compostable bags are not the type of stuff you want to have exposed to wetness for too long.

[Amethyst]

Yeah, I don't get the smell issue, unless you aren't using bags. I used to put food scraps in the garage, which was under the sink, but not covered. Now they go into the compost bin that has a lid which seals it, so it should be better. Once they are in the big bins outside, there is no difference what colour they are in. The bins stink in the summer and not in the winter.

I find it usually takes me a week to fill the small bin, but I've been making an effort not to over-buy food and have waste. Sometimes it happens and then I fill it quicker.

[CampbellsTransgressions]

Using a green bin makes you less of an Albertan

[redforever]

Originally Posted by Amethyst

Yeah, I don't get the smell issue, unless you aren't using bags. I used to put food scraps in the garage, which was under the sink, but not covered. Now they go into the compost bin that has a lid which seals it, so it should be better. Once they are in the big bins outside, there is no difference what colour they are in. The bins stink in the summer and not in the winter.

I find it usually takes me a week to fill the small bin, but I've been making an effort not to over-buy food and have waste. Sometimes it happens and then I fill it quicker.

I doubt I will have as much for my green bin in winter. But in summer, you only have to husk a few corn cobs and the small pail the city gave is almost full. Also, I have some of my own veggies. If I clean up a head of my own lettuce, then I have more green waste that way as well...which I won't have in winter.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by CampbellsTransgressions

Using a green bin makes you less of an Albertan

Literally, what is the difference between using it and not?

Instead of tossing it in one bin, you're tossing it in another bin. Does it make any difference to a person?

It does help the farmers though. But I guess that has nothing to do with Alberta.

[JFK]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

Literally, what is the difference between using it and not?

Freedom.

[chemgear]

The garbage police are out to get you!

http://calgary.ctvnews.ca/green-cart...able-1.3669385

[llwhiteoutll]

Originally Posted by chemgear

The garbage police are out to get you!

http://calgary.ctvnews.ca/green-cart...able-1.3669385

The only people who pay those fines are the ones who don’t want to don’t want to spend the 5 minutes fighting them.

Unless they can show exactly who used the bin, it would be impossible to have these stand up to any sort of challenge.

[GGG]

They haven't given out any tickets it's about notification and getting people to improve.


In winter they should reduce green bin pickup to once every two weeks

[Frequitude]

So how are diapers supposed to work? I assume they can't get composted so they get picked up every two weeks? Sounds like a smelly mess in the summer.

[Hockeyguy15]

Originally Posted by Frequitude

So how are diapers supposed to work? I assume they can't get composted so they get picked up every two weeks? Sounds like a smelly mess in the summer.

They go in the black bin. Smell was not an issue this summer for us.

[Fuzz]

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.

Costco has the full size green bin liners. I've been using them in a 5 gallon pail, when full tie it up, walk the bucket out and dump it in the bin. It holds together well enough for that process.

[woob]

Anyone else feel like they could drop compost pickup to once every two weeks? We're composting everything we can and we still barely have half a bin on pickup day. Mind you, we're only a family of 3, with the third being a toddler.

[tvp2003]

Since the black cart was reduced to pickup every two weeks, has the user cost of that also been reduced? I'm too lazy to dig out my old Enmax bills to compare.

Originally Posted by GGG

In winter they should reduce green bin pickup to once every two weeks

Agreed. I read that weekly pickup was necessary for compostable material, but in the winter there are no fruit flies or bad smells -- everything just freezes.

[kevman]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

Since the black cart was reduced to pickup every two weeks, has the user cost of that also been reduced? I'm too lazy to dig out my old Enmax bills to compare.

Nope.

Nov 2016
Recycle - $8.10/month
Waste - $4.90/month

Nov 2017
Recycle - $8.30/month
Waste - $4.90/month

That said, we haven't started paying for the green car so maybe they'll adjust it then?

[tvp2003]

I looked it up -- apparently the $4.90 per month is just for processing the garbage, not to collect it?

http://www.calgary.ca/UEP/WRS/Pages/...ollection.aspx

How much is the Black Cart Collection Fee?

Households with black carts are charged monthly on their utility bill (ENMAX). The Waste Management Service Charge is mandatory if your household is eligible. This charge covers the costs associated with disposing and managing residential garbage at The City's three landfills. It does not cover the cost of pick-up, which is supported by your property taxes.

It also shows the $4.90 as the rate for "2015-2018" so hopefully they'll adjust it if they truly are processing less garbage.

I was hoping they would cut my cost in half because pickups were cut in half