Starting in early May, all Orangeville residents will be able to divert some of their garbage by participating in a green-bin collection program, to be paid for by the County of Dufferin.

Town-wide collections already occur in Shelburne, Mono and the former village of Grand Valley and by next fall the County will provide the service to all residents of Dufferin.

The program collects all food wastes, including bones, meat and dairy products, as well as paper waste such as paper towels, paper plates and cotton balls. All packaging must be removed before the food is put in the green bin. For example, if you were to put bread in the bin you would need to remove it from the bag first.

Residents are advised not to line the bin with a plastic bag unless it is duct-taped so the bag does not come out with the contents. Other lining options to reduce the smell include newspaper, paper bags or a cereal box. Green bins with loose plastics and other non-organic items such as recyclables will be left at the curb without being collected.

Those who currently compost are encouraged to continue doing so even once they receive a green bin, as the green bin can be used for other items that cannot be put in the compost. Those items would include meat, dairy, cooking oils/grease and leftovers.

Beginning in late April, residents will receive information packages and a green bin in order to participate in the program when it starts during the week of May 7.

A report from Doug Jones, the town's managing director of Environmental and Development Services, indicates the Town could see a reduction in garbage by about 1,400 tonnes this year alone, with potential savings nearing $100,000 in the solid waste management budget for 2007. These numbers are based on the program beginning on time.

The Citizens' Commission on Finance has recommended that Orangeville Council consider reducing the current two-bag limit for 'free' garbage collection to one and charge $1 per additional bag.

Mr. Jones said should council go forward with this recommendation the information could appear in the green bin brochure. He added that the move would also produce more savings in the town's solid waste management budget.