Toronto set to introduce rodent-resistant green bins
Posted April 6, 2015 6:15 am.
Last Updated April 6, 2015 1:40 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
City officials in Toronto may have finally come up with a long-term solution to stop raccoons from tucking into your trash.
According to a staff report, the next generation of green bins will feature a rodent-resistant locking lid, which will also keep out animals like raccoons.
The current 46.5-litre green bins were rolled out from 2002 to 2005 and are now reaching the end of their 10-year lifespan, the report said.
The new bins are said to be more user-friendly, and twice as large as the old ones with a capacity of around 100 litres.
They will also have larger wheels and can be collected with automated collection vehicles.
The Public Works Committee is meeting on Thursday to debate who will be awarded the more than $31-million, 10-year contract to produce the bins.
Click here to read the agenda item.
City staff recommends that city council approve the agreement with Rehrig Pacific Company, which they said has met the highest requirements “for the manufacturing, distribution and maintenance” of the green bins.
Officials said the bins are expected to be rolled out starting at the end of this year or early in 2016.
Expanded Blue Bin program
While city staff are working to keep intruders out of the green bin, the blue bin program will expand to allow more items in.
Starting in June, Torontonians can recycle more plastic items, including bags from dry cleaning, produce, and milk.
According to a staff report, additional revenues from recycling the new items will cover the costs of expanding the program and ultimately save $8,527 a year.
