By: Matt Weinagrden, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Lakeshore News Reporter
The Essex-Windsor Region is set to launch its Green Bin program, which aims to promote sustainable waste management by encouraging residents to divert food waste from landfills. Starting the week of July 21st and continuing through early October, nearly 120,000 Green Bin Kits will be delivered to single-family homes included in the 2025 program. Each kit contains a 120L Green Bin, a 7L Kitchen Catcher (made in Canada), a “How-To” guide, a sample compostable bag, and a coupon. Residents can find out the delivery schedule for their specific municipality or zone by visiting www.ewswa.org, which will be updated on a regular basis. Residents can also download the Recycle Coach App to receive notifications about their delivery and the weekly collection schedule that begins the third week of October. Upon receiving their Green Bin, residents will notice a “Welcome” sticker on the lid. Key messaging tells the resident to write their address on the space provided as this green bin is scanned and linked to their address for the EWSWA Green Bin Repair & Request program that will track issues related to green bin repairs, warranty, and requesting a green bin for new builds, etc.
Starting the week of October 21, phase one of the the EWSWA Green Bin Program will offer weekly curbside collection of food waste and organics in Windsor, Essex, Lakeshore, LaSalle, and Tecumseh. Phase two will include Amherstburg, Kingsville and Leamington, beginning organics collection in the fall of 2026.
Using the Green Bin can reduce household garbage by up to 50 percent and will create renewable energy and fertilizer, cut greenhouse emissions, extend landfill life and reduce long-term costs. Residents should place organic food waste like fruits and vegetables, meats, dairy products, coffee grounds, and paper products with food residue. They can also put dryer lint, hair and dead house plants in the green bin.
According to Cat Griffin, Communications Coordinator for EWSWA, each green bin has a ‘gravity’ lock that keeps pests out and automatically releases when the bin is lifted and tipped for collection.
It’s important to note that the EWSWA Green Bin will be the only bin serviced during collection this fall, emphasizing its role in helping manage organic waste effectively. Deliveries will occur Monday through Friday. If a scheduled date falls on a holiday, it may change – check back regularly for updates as new information becomes available. Organics will not be picked-up at multi-residential buildings with seven or more units.
Griffin says that all Windsor-based food waste and organics will be transported to their transfer station, before moving daily to Leamington for processing and converted to liquid fertilizer.
“They have an anaerobic digester where your food waste and organics will be turned into digestate, which is a type of fertilizer that will be used on farmers’ fields.” she added. “Anaerobic digestion — the process by which organic materials are broken down by microorganisms in an enclosed vessel in the absence of oxygen — will allow the waste to be used as renewable energy in greenhouses.”
“We look forward to the rollout of the Essex-Windsor Solid Waste Authority’s Green Bin Program in Lakeshore,” said Lakeshore mayor Tracey Bailey.
“This county-wide initiative is an important step toward reducing household organic waste in our local landfills and continuing our efforts to build a more sustainable future. Small steps like this new curbside collection will help make a lasting difference for generations to come.”
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