Organic material

Organic waste, which is made up of kitchen waste and green waste is picked up EVERY MONDAY, between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. The bins must be placed curbside before 7 a.m. on Mondays or after 7 p.m. on Sundays. The wheels must be facing the house and the lid must be closed but unlocked. Both green and kitchen waste can be deposited in the bin. Don’t overfill your bin; the lid must be completely closed.

Any surplus green waste can be placed beside the bin in either a rigid container such as a garbage bin (weighing no more than 22.7 kg or 50 lb), or a biodegradable container such as a paper bag or cardboard box (not in the blue recycling bin).

To facilitate the collections, the bins must be placed on each side of your driveway or if placed side by side, allow a clearance of at least 0.5 m (2 ft) between the brown bin and the blue recycling bin. Full or not, put your bin at the curb each week.

• PDF - Consult the instructions for more information about the collection of organic waste
• PDF - Consult the list of accepted and refused organic waste
• PDF - How to make an economical liner for your kitchen bin
• PDF - List of retailers where you can find paper bags

Frequently asked questions

1. Why do we have an organic waste collection?
   Most Montreal area landfills are near capacity and will no longer accept organic matter due to the lack of space. Organic materials must now be directed to composting sites.

   Organic matter represents 45% of the waste sent to landfills. By collecting your organic materials we will significantly reduce the amount of unnecessary waste going to landfill sites. In addition, landfill costs are 30% higher than the costs to compost organic matter. The City of Dollard-des-Ormeaux produces over 20,000 tons of waste per year and by diverting organic matter from landfills we can generate significant savings.

2. What is an organic residue?
   Organic residue includes all cooked and uncooked table scraps such as fruits, vegetables, meat, bones, bread, pasta, cereals, Kleenex, paper-towels, etc. It also includes green residues such as garden residues, small branches, leaves, grass, flowers, etc.
   
3. Am I obligated to participate?
   Soon, organic matter will no longer be accepted in landfills. In the meantime, and because it is an imposed policy, the City is implementing organic waste collection as a transitional measure in order to gradually integrate citizens into these new practices. Citizens are strongly encouraged to participate in this new organic materials waste collection since it will be subjected to regulation.
   
4. Why should I participate in this collection, I already compost at home?
   One does not preclude the other. Citizens that already compost domestic materials are encouraged to continue to do so in order to profit from this practice. However, cooked table scraps that cannot be composted will have to be placed in the brown bin.
5. How do I avoid odors emanating from my organic waste?
   Paper bags are available at certain grocery stores and local retailers. Preventing odors from escaping the bin can be achieved by rolling the bags. Newspaper, which is listed among the accepted waste material, can also be used as an alternative bin liner.
   
6. I don’t have room for another bin in my garage.
   As the brown bin is equipped with a lock to prevent animals from opening it, it can be left outside on the side of the house, provided it is not visible from the street. Moreover, the purpose of the brown bin is to ultimately replace your current garbage container, and it is of a smaller size that can hold 80 liters while garbage bins are generally more than 100 liters.
   
7. Bins are already an eyesore, what is the City going to do to address this?
   With the help of the Municipal Patrol we ensure that in between collection days, residents place their blue bins where it is not visible from the street. The same regulations is applied to the brown bins and the City requires the cooperation of all residents for the compliance of this request.