[Gnomes]

Last week I finally received my green bin and started reading up on it. I acknowledge that we are trying to make this city into the most green city it possibly can with carbon tax, bike lanes, and now this.

Wondering how people expect to deal with some potential problems I hear about are rat infestations, the smell of rotten food in alley during summer months, and maggots (image google "green bin maggots" and you will see what I mean).

The city suggest to freeze the scrap food until the day before pick up and put them out. I find that hard to do because not everyone have enough space in their freezer.

The city is also expecting to expand the project to condos too in the near future. That will mean increased maintenance fees to pay for exterminators.

[Gridlock]

In many respects, Vancouver is years behind the ball on this one.

We had this where I grew up in NS like 20 years ago. I'm not gonna lie, it was annoying hauling a cart up and down a long sloped gravel driveway.

They really don't smell. If people do it properly, and don't put meat scraps in, then you don't have a problem. It's the smell of meat that brings in rats, mice and other problems. Plus, its emptied weekly.

In New West, they are also rolling out the program. The bins were dropped off last week for one of my buildings. Everything has liners and such. Clean system. For the main cart, they even re-line it for me. If people don't hose out the apartment bucket, well, they will when they move out :)

I don't see it as a huge issue...besides, it saves money on garbage pick-up :)

[dinosaur]

I'm the opposite...I totally see this as being an issue in residential buildings.

I foresee issues with fruit flies, black flies, ants, etc in peoples' apartments AND I see issues with rodents in parking garages (where the dumpsters are).

As for freezing garbage???? :heckno: I don't have the fucking room to store my fucking garbage in the freezer. I'm all about the environment, but ffs...I think this has gone too far.

Not a fan.

[Gnomes]

This project costs vancouver an additional 5.4 mil this year and expecting to increase next year. So no, this does not save the city money (unless you count money earned from selling fertilizer and decrease landfill)
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[sleepywheel]

We have the green bins in Burnaby and for the most part, it works out really well for us. Because we recycle as much as we can, our garbage bin is now the smallest one they have and the green bin is usually about half full except for during the winter months when there's hardly anything in it. There is the concern for smell during the summer but then I don't keep it inside the house and I don't have room in my freezer. This last week when I rolled it out to the alley, there were a lot of ants running around the food inside and during the summer when everything gets really ripe, the maggots start assembling. Nothing like grabbing the handle to move it and finding a bunch of squished maggots on your hand...............:mad:

Rat problems are nonexistant since we don't overfill it and the cover is always fully closed.

[bcrdukes]

I don't mind it because hipster.

[dinosaur]

My issue is that I don't see it working in apartment buildings. A house is one thing....but with semi-communal living you need to be concerned about the fucktard living next to you to be on top of it. We have enough problems with people collecting or stockpiling cans and pop bottles and it turning into an ant and fruit fly problem.

One thing for sure....my Orkin dude is going to be happy.

[dinamix]

It's stupid. Aint nobody got time to sort out garbage.

[jbsali]

honestly, i just attracts trouble. We've had these little green bins in surrey for a while and i've had nothing but problems with it. had to set up a mouse trap in my garage. moved the bin outside and have rats and racoons always messing with it and went to put some more food scraps in it and i was greeted my tons of maggots. i stopped using it...

i couldn't imagine this being used in condo complex's, etc

[Gridlock]

One thing for sure....my Orkin dude is going to be happy.

...his father died last week and he was still "how are you diddly-doin' cutomer-ino?" with me....dude is always happy.

[mb_]

This has been going on for a while in Surrey now and we've had no issues. They're collected weekly as opposed to every 2 weeks with garbage and recycling so rodents and what not have never been a problem.
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[GLOW]

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_R0HG2j5GZWg/TTMlwKfxAAI/AAAAAAAAAG0/BTwEJGHQpU8/s320/mr__horse-1.jpg

[TOS'd]

We have been using one of those plastic rectangle salad containers without a lid for our fruits/vegetable scraps for a long time now. And we have had no problems with ants or flies in the house. It gets dumped into the green yard trimmings bin.

[dinosaur]

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_R0HG2j5GZWg/TTMlwKfxAAI/AAAAAAAAAG0/BTwEJGHQpU8/s320/mr__horse-1.jpg

No word of a lie...this pops into my head at least once a day!

Love Ren & Stimpy!

[winson604]

Just want to point out that the City of Vancouver, Surrey, Richmond, Burnaby and all of Metro Vancouver doesn't really have a choice in this matter. Metro Vancouver has put a ban on all food scraps to the Landfill by 2015. It was either now or later.

[Lomac]

Coming from someone that actually does composting in his backyard, I've never had an issue with rodents or other various animals/insects creating a mess. So long as you leave your lid on tight and don't put meat in (which is a no-no, anyway), you'll have nothing to worry about.

[dinosaur]

composting is different from this program.

this is a once a week pick-up of food scraps....not compost bin...no soil....no worms....no natural process.

rotting food...under the kitchen sink or in the freezer (ew) and put in a container in a parking garage for pick-up.

totally into composting! if the city was supplying compost bins with worms, soil, etc...i think it would be a lot better. this? not for communal living.

[bcrdukes]

Buy a house. :troll:

[Gridlock]

And this really shouldn't matter as you all currently...
https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRlO6ySWvhTR2V24kS0U8PK31jwnPCSV uy7IK5wOy8_hLAphhoR

pocket mulch?

[Gnomes]

So long as you leave your lid on tight and don't put meat in (which is a no-no, anyway), you'll have nothing to worry about.

If you have no garburator and freezer is full, what will you do with waste meat? Heavily bagged in regular garbage (2 week collection)?

[Lomac]

If you have no garburator and freezer is full, what will you do with waste meat? Heavily bagged in regular garbage (2 week collection)?

I keep a collection of Ziplock freezer bags that i use for waste meat and bones, which I'll just place in the trash. Seems to work well as I haven't had an issue yet with wildlife cowtipping my garbage can.

[FARMER]

if the city was supplying compost bins with worms, soil, etc...i think it would be a lot better. this? not for communal living.

The city of Vancouver already sells backyard composting bins at greatly discounted prices (I have three of them; want more :P) and also worm composting bins for apartment folks. There are also free composting tutorials organized by Vancouver residents. I heart Vancouver. :D

[dinosaur]

The city of Vancouver already sells backyard composting bins at greatly discounted prices (I have three of them; want more :P) and also worm composting bins for apartment folks. There are also free composting tutorials organized by Vancouver residents. I heart Vancouver. :D

:facepalm:

I am aware. But, this isn't what this program is....it is a food scrap bin, not compost.

[finbar]

I just read the city's page (http://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/prevent-odours-and-pests.aspx), it's excruciating, probably written by the anal retentive guy from SNL.
Wrap scraps in newspaper?, put in freezer?
Fuck me running!



OTOH, the Toronto scheme of bagging the scraps worked for me in '07.
Plus they took a wider variety.
Digester ftw.

[FARMER]

:facepalm:

I am aware. But, this isn't what this program is....it is a food scrap bin, not compost.

Then what were you trying to say in your previous post? If you want to compost your food scraps, the city subsidizes you for that, if you want to use these new bins you can do that. What else more do you want? :sleepingzz:

[dinosaur]

This is about the new food scrap program they are rolling out in New West (and other cities). Specifically, they are putting scrap food bins in parking garages and giving each tenant buckets to keep under their sinks. These are just simple plastic bins not compost bins.

My issue with this program is I do not see it working specifically in multi-family dwellings like apartment buildings. I wish that the city was giving out compost bin and working towards implementing a composting program for all buildings.

Holding onto food scraps in each apartment or freezing garbage is not a viable plan, imo. There are areas of the city (specifically Agnes Street) that have HUGE problems with rodents right now. This has been a nightmare to deal with along with fruit flies. I see this adding to the problem.

[xilley]

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YD8Na5Mv4oY/USZJ0T5RKQI/AAAAAAAADnU/5U871_OaqRE/s1600/Ain-t-Nobody-Got-Time-Fo-Dat-sweet-brown-31241125-480-330.jpg

[RevYouUp]

FUUUU, got those green bins today in Richmond :(

I know this probably is a dumb question but can anyone tell me why food scraps in the landfills matter? All that shit is going to decompose there anyways..

[sdubfid]

FUUUU, got those green bins today in Richmond :(

I know this probably is a dumb question but can anyone tell me why food scraps in the landfills matter? All that shit is going to decompose there anyways..

I agree. No problem to flush good drinking water down the toilet but putting an apple core in the landfill is bad? What was the carbon footprint of producing all of those plastic bins? It's ok just pay some money and it's carbon neutral suddenly.

[Gridlock]

FUUUU, got those green bins today in Richmond :(

I know this probably is a dumb question but can anyone tell me why food scraps in the landfills matter? All that shit is going to decompose there anyways..

Yes, but in a landfill, it still takes up room. It also produces methane and isn't useful.

Organics are also something like 60% of the total garbage.

Individuals can make a huge difference, and without a large amount of effort. And the organics can be used in gardens and such.

Win win. This isn't some hippie bikelane bullshit. This is a real win.

[dinosaur]

^^ we are not freezing our garbage nor am I keeping it in our place. If you want to participate, you are taking it out all day every day, dude.

[bcrdukes]

This isn't some hippie bikelane bullshit.

As a cyclist who does not utilize the bike lanes while paying ICBC to insure 3 vehicles, I am offended.

:troll:

[Gridlock]

^^ we are not freezing our garbage nor am I keeping it in our place. If you want to participate, you are taking it out all day every day, dude.

Do you even know where the garbage goes?

And all day, every day? I need to be on 24 hour garbage watch? You, of all people, DINOSAUR, should understand the need to protect our environment.

[Gnomes]

DINOSAURS + iceage = doom.
DINOSAURS + warm earth = thrive

[dinosaur]

DINOSAURS + iceage = doom.
DINOSAURS + warm earth = thrive

umm...kinda.

[bcrdukes]

You are difficult to please. Are you sure you aren't Asian?

Just kidding! :fullofwin:

[Great68]

They implemented this same program in Victoria in February.

When they announced it, I had the same concerns but it turned out to be not as bad as expected. I don't freeze it, I just use compostable bags.

Though, I can see how it would be concerning in an apartment building if everyone dumps into a communal scrap bin.

[dinosaur]

You are difficult to please. Are you sure you aren't Asian?

Just kidding! :fullofwin:

Well....there is a little in me somewhere...I have shovel shaped incisors :)
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[Lomac]

Well....there is a little in me somewhere...I have shovel shaped incisors :)
Posted via RS Mobile

I'm sure some Asian can be in you if you really want...

:fullofwin:

(not asian, btw lol)

[GLOW]

I don't freeze it, I just use compostable bags.


stupid question...where do you get "compostable bags"?...or do you mean paper bags?

[Gridlock]

I'm sure some Asian can be in you if you really want...

:fullofwin:

(not asian, btw lol)

Saw that one flying in from a mile away....

[H.Specter]

stupid question...where do you get "compostable bags"?...or do you mean paper bags?

compostable/biodegradeable bags aren't accepted (depending on which municipality you are from) eg. Surrey facility can't process that type of plastic.

the paper bags are accepted across all municipalities though.

[Great68]

compostable/biodegradeable bags aren't accepted (depending on which municipality you are from) eg. Surrey facility can't process that type of plastic.

the paper bags are accepted across all municipalities though.

Compostable bags are not the same thing as biodegradeable bags.

Biodegradeable bags just mean the bags decompose into smaller bits of plastic over time.

Compostable bags mean they actually break down into humus (stable organic matter, basically dirt).

Earthcycle Blog · Compostable vs. Biodegradable ? what?s the difference? (http://earthcycle.com/blog/2010/02/05/compostable-vs-biodegradable-%E2%80%93-what%E2%80%99s-the-difference/)

The City of Victoria gave everyone a box of compostable bags at the start of the program in February. When I used those up, I found that Costco sells them in boxes of 125 bags for pretty cheap.

[GLOW]

When I used those up, I found that Costco sells them in boxes of 125 bags for pretty cheap.

thanks. that might be a something i might have to use to make sure my green bin doesn't smell like poo or attract animals

[Expresso]

thanks. that might be a something i might have to use to make sure my green bin doesn't smell like poo or attract animals

I was lucky enough to be part of the pilot project for about 2-3 years now. That's the thing that bugs me, if they wanted people to be more receptive to the program they should be providing the bags for free or at a discounted price. I mean their buying power should ensure some decent savings. So instead, we are stuck with less frequent garbage pick ups, paying for specialized bags, and add on top taxes go up to pay for this new program.

[bcrdukes]

Well....there is a little in me somewhere...I have shovel shaped incisors :)
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I'm sure some Asian can be in you if you really want...

:fullofwin:

(not asian, btw lol)

Is Lomac going to dress up as a Korean FOB and crawl up......nevermind. :pokerface: :inoutugh:

[GLOW]

well it's been 1 week of this...and the first thing we noticed is that when we emptied out our little green bucket, it left a lot of unpleasant 'garbage juice' which turned in to a fuzzy mold in it...even though we outlined it with a paper bag...
definitely going to take some adjusting too...

[dinosaur]

eeewwww

[GLOW]

we'll see what grows this week. i can snap a pic just for you dino ;)

[dinosaur]

WOOT! :fullofwin:

[Euro7r]

This green bin scrap program is nasty like fuck. Smells like puke. I had to use my garden hose to flush out all the garbage liquid that built up during the week. So many flies :fuuuuu:

[dinosaur]

Yeah man....2 of the 3 buildings that have the bins are CRAWLING with maggots and flies. The smell is UNREAL!

You open the lid and swarms of flies almost suffocates you...it is beyond nasty. Also, got a call 2 days ago from a tenant complaining about fruit flies, ugh.

The other building isn't as bad...but its because nobody is really using it.

[finbar]

The city could have started this in the winter months and eased us into it, a sort of boiling frog method.




Also, got a call 2 days ago from a tenant complaining about fruit flies, ugh.
So what's the remedy for fruit flies?






http://cdn.meme.li/instances/300x300/39775630.jpg

[dinosaur]

There are no remedies....

You can google homemade traps, etc...I've tried a couple but they turn into breeding grounds. Your kitchen literally needs to be void of everything! No fruit, pour bleach down the drain on a regular basis, make sure that tray that collects excess water at the bottom of your fridge is bleached, trash all your house plants, etc...even then, its hard. If you have one...you have them all.

They also travel far...which means, if your neighbour has them there is a good chance you will get them. Sucks not buying bananas anymore :(

[GLOW]

i hung a roll of the fly trap sticky tape on it...man after a few days it's looking pretty gross :lol

[Fuhrër-Z]

Green bin hasn't been an issue for my household. It's actually gotten me pretty heavy into recycling now. Fruit flies seem to appear now and then, but it's completely based on keeping the kitchen clean and clear of food. Not a big deal IMO.