Residents may be supplied with a small container to collect food waste to make collection of organics more convenient. This is typically referred to as the ‘kitchen catcher.’ It is about 5 to 7 litre size, and would be stored in the kitchen (e.g., under the sink, in a cupboard, or on the counter).

Depending on how much food waste is generated in a household, the kitchen catcher will be emptied into the Green Bin daily or 2 to 3 times per week. Some kitchen catchers have a snap lid and may have a charcoal filter to trap and reduce odours.

What option will work for you?

Establishing a convenient way to collect organic waste in each household is critical to a successful city-wide program. Collecting your food scraps for the Green Bin has to be made as easy as possible. If not, then there’s a good chance they will not find their way into the Green Bin.

We can learn something from households that successfully compost food scraps using a back-yard composter. These households keep a ‘kitchen-catcher’ bin within easy reach to collect food scraps as meals are being prepared and during meal clean-up. The kitchen bin sits on the counter-top while in use and then is stored away when not in use. The size of the kitchen catcher is an important factor. It needs to be small enough for working with on the counter and stored when not in use and large enough to contain food scraps for a day or more. Other features include a lid that controls odours and fruit flies, and possibly attached so that it is not misplaced, a handle for easy carrying, and an opening that facilitates receiving scraps off plates and easily tipping the food scraps into the Green Bin. If you plan to line the kitchen bin, then the size and shape may also be a factor to ensure that the liners fit the bin.

Some options for kitchen bins are pictured above. To reduce costs the City will also be considering lower cost options. This may include asking those households that are able, to opt for a no-cost DIY bin such as a large metal coffee can or plastic ice cream tub. Another lower cost option is to provide a coupon to go towards the cost of a bin of choice from a London retailer.