Green Bin

Green bins organics are collected on the same day as your recycling every week. Check your collection schedule by downloading the Durham Region Waste App or using our Waste Schedule tool.

Set your green bin on your boulevard or driveway close to the curb (not on the road), no later than 7 a.m. on the day of your collection and no earlier than 6 p.m. the night before.

Use the green bin to separate your organics from your garbage. The organics collected through the green bin program are composted at another facility. Finished compost is then offered back to community members for use on their lawns and gardens through yearly spring compost giveaway events.

Curbside green bin collection

Use guidelines

• Store the small container in your kitchen in a convenient place
• Line your kitchen container with a certified compostable bag, paper based product or wrap organics securely in a newspaper. Do not use plastic grocery bags to line your bins
• Empty your food waste directly into the liner bag, removing plastic wrap from fruit and vegetables
• When odours are noticeable or the liner bag is nearly full, tie the liner bag closed. Carry your kitchen container and its contents to where you keep your curbside green bin
• Store the larger curbside green bin in your garage or outside in the shade and lock the lid securely
• Be sure not to overload your green bin. The weight limit should not exceed 20 kg (44 lbs)

What goes in the green bin

Note: Beginning July 1, 2024, diapers, menstrual products, incontinence products, pet waste and pet litter can go in the Green Bin for weekly collection. Learn more, learn about what to put in your green bin and view frequently asked questions.

Not sure what goes in the green bin? Use the Know Before You Throw tool to correctly sort your waste!  

Acceptable liner bags

Only use liner bags that are 100% certified compostable and made from all natural products that will completely break down and become part of the finished compost. Look for liner bags marked with logos showing that they are certified compostable bags.

The use of 100% certified compostable liner bags, paper food, waste bags, or food waste wrapped in newspaper is how Durham Region produces top-quality compost. Biodegradable or oxo biodegradable liner bags are not compostable. Plastic does not completely break down, making it costly and inefficient to separate and remove it from compostable material. Green bins lined with unacceptable liner bags including plastic grocery bags, will not be collected.

Curbside bins

Be sure not to overload your green bin. The weight limit should not exceed 20 kg (44 lbs.).

• Purchase additional bins at the Region of Durham Waste Management Centre located in Whitby. For more information and operating hours, visit the Region's Waste Bin page.
• Exchange damaged curbside green bins free by calling Service Oshawa at 905-436-3311.

Materials left at the curb?

Before calling Service Oshawa to report a missed collection, please review the common set out mistakes on the Waste Tips page.

Compost giveaway events

Each spring, the Region of Durham offers free compost to community members to thank them for separating and diverting organics and leaf and yard waste from the waste stream. For more information about the compost giveaway, visit the Region's Waste Special Events page.