A Moment with the Mayor: The weekly green bin is back

The weather is changing, and we’re all out doing more yard work. As we pick up the trash that has blown around our yards and neighbourhoods, you may find that the green bin fills easily. The green compost bin is a great tool to reduce the amount of material going to our landfill. It’s your space for organic material such as grass clippings, leaves and food waste in certified compostable bags. Tree branches can be included in the if they fit completely in the bin.

What else can you put in the green organics bin from your home? Here’s a partial list of items that may be compostable: small pieces of wood, sawdust, shredded paper, pest waste that is bagged, eggshells, grass clippings, cooking oils and kitchen grease, cold ashes and bones are just a few items from the approved list found at Lloydminster.ca/curbside.

The green compost bin is not for recyclables or hazardous waste. It’s important that you do not use the green bin for items not on the approved list. We encourage you to use blue bags for the plastics, such as milk jugs and dish soap bottles. Several plastic bottles and jugs can be recycled through the blue bag program. Additionally, empty aluminum tins, cans and foil are recyclable. Clean paper and cardboard, newspapers and flyers, and flattened boxes are all acceptable in the blue bag program weekly. A complete list of items accepted in the blue bag program can be found at Lloydminster.ca/curbside. 

The grey garbage bin is designed to handle our refuse, which may include broken garden hoses, broken glass or nails, and old shoes or boots, old gloves and other clothing that are beyond repair or donation. And, of course, your basic daily garbage. Please remember to ensure your lids are closed on both your garbage and compost bins as you set them out for weekly pickup to ensure they are collected.

What happens if your bin is full and you have more garbage? Lloydminster residents have free tipping fees with proof of residence at the Lloydminster landfill. You can haul that extra garbage, broken furniture and worn household appliances to the landfill. The list of all the materials the landfill can accept and the hours of operation can be found at Lloydminster.ca/landfill.

Please mark your calendars for the annual Community Cleanup planned for April 29 to May 5. Stay tuned for further details or visit Lloydminster.ca/communitycleanup.

Mayor Gerald S. Aalbers
City of Lloydminster