Now *this* is exciting!

Shopgirl · by **Shopgirl** on Thu Apr 12, 2012 7:17 am

http://www.timescolonist.com/technology ... story.html

So glad to hear they are finally getting this done! I can't wait!

Benjorsam · by **Benjorsam** on Thu Apr 12, 2012 8:43 am

I am so not looking forward to this. They had a green bin program in Ottawa and there were so many cases of verming and maggots in the containers that many people stopped using them. They were supposed to be raccoon safe, but they too were getting into it. For people who have a large area where they can put this its great, but for us it will have to go in our garage and I am not looking forward to the smell in the summer. At least in Ottawa it was picked up every week.

I personally think its stupid to ban kitchen scraps as they are pretty much the only thing that will break down naturally and are actually good for the environment.

onceinvic · by **onceinvic** on Thu Apr 12, 2012 8:47 am

I like the idea behind this, but am a bit concerned... We recycle/compost EVERYTHING, but you can't put bones in a regular composter. Or meat (although with two dogs, the rare occasions we have meat do not result in anything left over!). i just wonder why bones are on this list?

knittingmama · by **knittingmama** on Thu Apr 12, 2012 8:52 am

it'll be interesting to see how this plays out. Although composting is an ideal way to deal with kitchen scraps, they have to realize that not every household in the municipalities have the room for a compost bin and there are some people that don't want a compost bin in their yard because they attract rats and other creatures. Look at Oak Bay and their compost program . . . they have an infestation of rats there because of it. IT's easy food for them, they don't have to work hard to get it. IT's a program that really needs a lot more thought put into it to make it work. I live on Triangle where we have enough rats and raccoons, I'm not sure I want to encourage more of them.

Colesmum · by **Colesmum** on Thu Apr 12, 2012 12:28 pm

onceinvic wrote:I like the idea behind this, but am a bit concerned... We recycle/compost EVERYTHING, but you can't put bones in a regular composter. Or meat (although with two dogs, the rare occasions we have meat do not result in anything left over!). i just wonder why bones are on this list?

Oooo, I know

Only because years ago I was given a tour of a composting facility on the lower mainland that does exactly this with meat/bones/kitchen wate, etc. Although our backyard composts can only do plant and veggie type composting, the commercial composters can raise the temps up to such a degree that it isn't an issue. I think its great, may as well have them take the stuff away to be useful rather than sitting in a landfill, that being said, I would love to know where they take the kitchen waste, as there is no commercial composter here on the southern part of the island....also like a pp mentioned, man I wish we had pickup more than once every two weeks...

luvmy3bugs · by **luvmy3bugs** on Thu Apr 12, 2012 12:39 pm

View royal has a great system set up. Compost is picked up every week with garbage. It is in a container with a lid provided by the city, same as the garbage can. Does not attrack rats the same as a big compost bin does.

mnd · by **mnd** on Thu Apr 12, 2012 6:04 pm

we live in VR and have done this for 5 years now.. LOVE IT.. no bugs, rodents etc. We usually have 1-2 bags a week and it sure cuts down on the garbage you put to the curb.. Don't know what we would do without it now. We were just at my parents in Vernon and their complex doesn't even have a recycling program let alone this... it was shocking!

onceinvic · by **onceinvic** on Thu Apr 12, 2012 7:35 pm

Colesmum wrote:Oooo, I know Only because years ago I was given a tour of a composting facility on the lower mainland that does exactly this with meat/bones/kitchen wate, etc. Although our backyard composts can only do plant and veggie type composting, the commercial composters can raise the temps up to such a degree that it isn't an issue.

Thanks! I love new information!

by T on Thu Apr 12, 2012 7:44 pm

Being a family who lives in an apartment, I wonder how this would work in larger buildings.

I certainly don't have anywhere to store scraps (even to bring to a communal collection bin somewhere on the property) or to store a larger bin in my already small space.

Benjorsam · by **Benjorsam** on Thu Apr 12, 2012 8:52 pm

mnd wrote:we live in VR and have done this for 5 years now.. LOVE IT.. no bugs, rodents etc. We usually have 1-2 bags a week and it sure cuts down on the garbage you put to the curb.. Don't know what we would do without it now. We were just at my parents in Vernon and their complex doesn't even have a recycling program let alone this... it was shocking!

What are you doing to ensure that the bugs and rodents aren't getting into it? My inlaws, who live in Hamilton, have been participating in the program for a few years now and even with careful wrapping of scraps and tightly sealing the bin, bugs and rodents are a big problem. I wonder if it has something to do with the weather difference between Ontario and here. Obviously hot, humid summers are not going to be conducive to a smell free bin. We are a family of 5 and only have one bag of garbage a week as it is, so its not like this is going to divert a huge amount of trash from our cans.

OnceHarmony · by **OnceHarmony** on Thu Apr 12, 2012 9:03 pm

I wish we could choose to opt out of this one and go with our own way of doing it. What if I use my compost? Do I still have to pay for a program that I'm not using? I guess so. It will be like public schools where you pay even if you don't utilize them. For the greater good I guess.

We use Pedal to Petal and I've only had one teeny tiny mouse when I forgot to put the lid on tight. I think we shocked each other when I took the lid off to find a mouse at a buffet. Man, that mouse was fast. He was already across the yard before I realized it was a mouse.

greengecko · by **greengecko** on Fri Apr 13, 2012 7:58 pm

T wrote:What are you doing to ensure that the bugs and rodents aren't getting into it? My inlaws, who live in Hamilton, have been participating in the program for a few years now and even with careful wrapping of scraps and tightly sealing the bin, bugs and rodents are a big problem. I wonder if it has something to do with the weather difference between Ontario and here. Obviously hot, humid summers are not going to be conducive to a smell free bin. We are a family of 5 and only have one bag of garbage a week as it is, so its not like this is going to divert a huge amount of trash from our cans.

I live in View Royal. The town provides a bin to keep your bagged composting scraps in until our weekly pickup. The compost bin is the same as our garbage bin, just a different colour, with a handle that locks shut. I've never had a problem with rodents, bugs or even bad smells. I put newspaper in the bottom to absorb any moisture and replace whenever necessary. In the Summer I rinse out and air out every so often.

WommaWomma · by **WommaWomma** on Sun Apr 15, 2012 10:13 am

My grandparents are in Qualicum Beach and they love the program. They are able to keep their garbage down to one grocery bag a week and have never had a problem with pests either. They keep the bin right beside the garbage can and use those compostable liners so that they can keep from spilling stuff everywhere.
I live in a condo and am looking forward to this program... we can't compost on our deck and I feel super crappy tossing stuff in the garbage that I could compost elsewhere.
If other municipalities are running the program already, why is taking Victoria so long to get it set up?

midnightly · by **midnightly** on Sun Apr 15, 2012 1:10 pm

T wrote:Being a family who lives in an apartment, I wonder how this would work in larger buildings.

I certainly don't have anywhere to store scraps (even to bring to a communal collection bin somewhere on the property) or to store a larger bin in my already small space.

this is my worry also.. being an apartment family finding a place to collect regular recycling is tricky enough (limited space to put bins in our living space) but to then do a compost bin? then add another large communal bin outside (which would just attract bugs, mice, and other such animals) and being communal the smell will build up quickly and realistically it won't be uncommon that someone doesn't remember to lock it shut (imagine that getting knocked over by some animal)

i can see it being doable for house residential but not so much for apartment dwellers

Benjorsam · by **Benjorsam** on Sun Apr 15, 2012 1:13 pm

midnightly wrote:
T wrote:Being a family who lives in an apartment, I wonder how this would work in larger buildings.

I certainly don't have anywhere to store scraps (even to bring to a communal collection bin somewhere on the property) or to store a larger bin in my already small space.

this is my worry also.. being an apartment family finding a place to collect regular recycling is tricky enough (limited space to put bins in our living space) but to then do a compost bin? then add another large communal bin outside (which would just attract bugs, mice, and other such animals) and being communal the smell will build up quickly and realistically it won't be uncommon that someone doesn't remember to lock it shut (imagine that getting knocked over by some animal)

i can see it being doable for house residential but not so much for apartment dwellers

I wonder if they could somehow install a chute that all the compost stuff would go in so that it could go directly into a bin in the basement. I've seen garbage chutes like these (although never in apartment buildings). If you had one chute per floor, it would make it easier for the tennants to take the compostables out everyday rather than having it sit in your apartment.