Using your green bin for organic waste is easy! Follow these steps to use your green bin properly, and keep it clean:

1. Line your kitchen container with a compostable bag or plastic bag.
2. Put all food waste, tissues, paper towel, napkins, household plants, kitty litter, pet waste and sanitary products in your kitchen container. Remember to remove all plastic packaging first!
3. When the bag is full, securely tie it and transfer it into your large green bin.

Do you want to know if a specific item can go in your green bin? Use our What Goes Where Search Tool to find out.

Use the following tips to make sure you are using your green bin properly:

• Any plastic bag can be used to line your kitchen container or green bin, just make sure you tie the bag before placing it inside your green bin.
• If your green bin is overflowing, it may not be collected. To ensure that your green bin is collected:
  • Make sure you green bin lid can fully close;
  • Make sure your green bin weighs less than 18 kilograms; and,
  • Place excess organic material in a clear bag beside your green bin. If you need an extra green bin, you can purchase one at a Markham Recycling Depot.
  • Write your address on your green bin with a permanent marker. This will make it easier for someone to return it to you if it blows away.
  • Do not put grass clippings and/or yard material in the green bin. Mulch the grass by leaving it on the lawn!

Keep Critters Away!

• Clean your green bin regularly with vinegar or baking soda.
• Keep the container lid tightly closed. Do not overfill it.
• Freeze food scraps to reduce odours and pests.
• Put your green bin out by 7:00 a.m. on the morning of your collection day, not the night before.
• Never use hot sauce or any kind of burning liquid on your green bin. This can injure our collection crews, pets and wildlife.

You can pick up a green bin and kitchen container at any Markham Recycling Depot! Visit the Recycling Depots & Drop Off Centres Homepage to find your closest Recycling Depot.

Note: Only broken or damaged Markham-branded green bins and kitchen containers can be exchanged at the Markham Recycling Depots. $5.50 fee applies.

Due to current COVID-19 restrictions, green bin and kitchen containers are temporarily unavailable at these locations: 

• Community Centres 
  • Angus Glen Community Centre
  • Centennial Community Centre
  • Milliken Mills Community Centre
  • Thornhill Community Centre

Green Bin $25.00

Kitchen Container $10.50

Payment

You can pay by cheque or debit/credit card.

The Region of York processes the organic material from Markham's green bins. Find out more about Your Region’s green bin organics processing by visiting York Region's Green Bin Organics Program Homepage.