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Skip Navigation LinksSimcoe County > Solid Waste Management > Backyard Composting

Backyard Composting

Backyard Composting & Your Green Bin - What's the Difference?

Although the two processes are similar in theory, the material you add to your backyard composter differs from the material you add to your green bin for following reasons:

The organics that are collected in the green bin are processed in an In-Vessel Processing Facility which allows the temperature and oxygen to be closely regulated to speed up the composting process. In-Vessel composting of organic food waste can be processed in as little as 30 days compared to 6 months to 2 years for your backyard composter to create usable compost. Not only that, the temperature within the In-Vessel Facility allows enough heat to kill bacteria present in meat, bones or oily/fatty substances that wouldn't go into your backyard composter. This is the key difference to remember between your backyard composter and your green bin. This is why you can put so many more materials into your green bin. There is also a variety of paper products that are allowed into your green bin that cannot go into your paper fibres recycling box due to the potential to be soiled with food. For more information about the green bin program, click here.

Why Compost?

  • To produce an excellent soil conditioner which will improve your soil and the plants growing in it.
  • To reduce waste; by composting kitchen and yard waste, you can reduce your household garbage by one-third to one half.

Getting Started

Although containers are not essential, they are recommended. You can buy a commercial model or build one yourself.  Backyard composters are available at all waste management facilities, for further details contact Customer Service at (705) 735-6901or 1 (800) 263-3199. 

Choose a sunny spot with good drainage and loosen the soil underneath to make it easier for earthworms to move up occasionally.  Be sure not to add any bones or meat that might attract unwanted visitors like raccoons.  In time, you'll have nutrient-rich compost.