Ottawa recently introduced a green bin program to help the city divert waste from landfills.Ottawa recently introduced a green bin program to help the city divert waste from landfills. (CBC) Ottawa’s green bin program is in its third week of operation, but there are already some concerns that the new program may struggle to meet its targets.

Orgaworld Canada has a 20-year contract with the city to compost 80,000 tonnes of green bin waste a year. At $93.50 a tonne, the city will be forced to pay the company at least $7.4 million, regardless of how much organic waste it collects.

To meet its minimum target, the city has to deliver roughly 1,500 tonnes of organic materials to the compost facility every week. But the city has only collected 500 tonnes since the program was launched in early January.

What's in, what's out

According to the City of Ottawa, approximately 45 per cent of the garbage (by weight) set out by the average Ottawa household is compostable organic material that can be put into the green bin.

The green bin can take many different types of organic waste, including leaves and yard cuttings, food-soiled paper products, used tissues, meat, dairy products, cooking oil and kitty litter, the city says. However, diapers and plastics are banned.

City staff are working with the industrial, commercial and institutional sector to promote composting at the composting facility

Ottawa’s solid waste department said it hopes leaves and yard waste generated in the spring, summer and fall will help balance out the shortfall.

Confusion over compost

The city rolled out the program on Jan. 4, but there’s already been some confusion about what can go into the bin. Last week, the city had to tell residents that they shouldn’t put dog feces into their green bins.

Ottawa resident Earl Jones said he’s still trying to sort out what can be composted.

“Just yesterday I dropped some chicken bones in the regular garbage, just not thinking,” Jones said. “It takes a little while to get used to.”

Terry Jones, a sanitation worker who picks up the bins, said he hopes the program will be a success.

"You need a few months to see how it's going to pick up," Jones said. "People need to be patient. It'll work."