The time has come for Cochrane to become a little more green.

After a good couple of years, the Town Of Cochrane will begin dropping off green bins this week in anticipation of starting organic curbside pick up the week of April 18.

Fabrizio Bertolo, Town of Cochrane, Waste and Recycling, Manager  is excited about starting this program which will divert an incredible amount of waste from the landfill.

"People don't realize how much organics we do generate and how much we can divert from our black bin. Sending organics to the landfill we are doing the worst thing that we can do, organics doesn't break down at the landfill."

Besides saving big dollars by not sending organics to the landfill, it will save the environment.

"Without oxygen when it is buried at the landfill it doesn't break down and what it does is it releases methane, methane is a green house gas and it's 23 times more dangerous than carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and it does produce leachate. Leachate is a very toxic liquid that is released from organic material without oxygen and it can eventually end up in our ground water."

Bertolo knows there are concerns of a fee increase with the implementation of the program, but says the good news is, there is none.

"There is no cost increase involved for the organics program, this is very good for everybody in town. We are adding a great service to the residents with no cost and this is possible because processing organics is much cheaper than disposing waste at the landfill."

While you may think organics is orange and banana peels, Bertolo says up to 70% of our trash can now be diverted. So what will the organics program accept?

"A huge amount of material from the usual fruit and vegetable to meat, bones, fish, eggs, cheese, all the material like napkins, paper towel, pizza boxes, coffee cups, paper plates. All this material won't go in the garbage bin anymore, they will all go in the green cart because they do break down, they make great compost. Then we have all the yard waste grass clippings, leaves, small branches, and pet waste."

While you will need compostable bags, Bertolo says stores in Cochrane are prepared.

Once organic collection begins, green bins will be picked up the day after your garbage collection day from the curb, as a reminder Bertolo says double check the collection calendar you received in December.

If you have any questions you can contact Bertolo at wasteandrecycling@cochrane.ca or follow their Facebook page here.

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