The Essex Windsor Solid Waste Authority (EWSWA) has reported that people are getting the hang of the new organic waste collection program.
The so-called Green Bin program, open to residents in Windsor, Essex, LaSalle, Lakeshore, and Tecumseh, was launched last month, with collections of food waste beginning.
Cathy Copot-Nepszy, EWSWA Waste Diversion Manager, told WindsorNewsToday.ca that the early results have been encouraging.
"We're really excited about the material that the residents are setting out at the curb," said Copot-Nepszy. "We've so far hit over 350 tons, in the first few weeks, of material, and residents are putting a lot of care to the material that they're setting in their Green Bin."
For the program to work, residents separate any food waste from their trash and place it in the Green Bin for pickup.
Copot-Nepszy added that the haul is close to what they had expected.
"For the first two weeks of a brand-new program like this, it's really good to see that we're on track," said Copot-Nepszy.
Like any new program, the authority said there are growing pains as drivers learn the routes and the pickup procedures, and residents using the bins develop a routine.
Copot-Nepszy said one thing residents can do to help drivers is position their Green Bins a certain way. Previously, people had been setting their bins with the arrows pointed to their homes.
"They're [the residents] used to doing that to help the drivers, but in this case, because we're using automation, it's important that the handles are toward the house, and the arrows on the lid are toward the street, so it can get collected," said Copot-Nepszy.
Drivers are also using "Oops" stickers to guide residents on what can go in the Green Bin and what can't.
The green collection program will be expanded to Amherstburg, Kingsville, and Leamington in 2026, with the latter anticipating a fall rollout.
Complete information about the EWSWA's Green Bin program can be found on its official website.
