What belongs in the brown bin

Last updated November 1, 2024
Reading time: 2 min
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Organic matter accounts for about 50 per cent of the contents of a garbage bag in Montréal. By using food waste compost bags, you give that organic matter renewed life. The following checklist tells you what to include in your compost bags.

Accepted materials

Raw, cooked or spoiled food

  • Cookies, sweets and desserts 

  • Dairy solids (cheese, butter and yogurt) 

  • Eggs and shells 

  • Fish and bones, seafood and shells 

  • Grain products such as pasta, bread, rice 

  • Fruits and vegetables 

  • Meat and poultry (with or without bones) 

  • Nuts and shells 

  • Pet food and animal feed 

  • Pulses and pulse-based proteins: Tofu, tempeh, textured vegetable protein 

  • Spices and herbs 

  • Tea and herbal tea leaves or coffee grounds, with the bags or paper filters (no staples)

Paper/cardboard packages and containers soiled by food

  • Containers and packaging of takeaway or frozen food in paper or cardboard soaked in fat or sauce: pizza/chicken boxes, prepared dish boxes, poutine bowls, condiment containers

  • Paper bags 

  • Paper muffin cups 

Solid paper

  • Brown paper, paper towels, Kleenex, paper napkins 

  • Newspaper 

  • Paper bibs

Unacceptable materials 

  • All metal, glass or plastic items 

  • Biomedical waste 

  • Containers and takeaway packaging made of certified compostable plastic, PLA, corn starch or biodegradable plastic

  • Chewing gum 

  • Cigarette butts 

  • Construction and renovation debris 

  • Crystal, porcelain, ceramics 

  • Diapers for babies and adults (even certified compostable) and plastic hygiene products such as cotton swabs 

  • Disposable cleaning cloths 

  • Fabric 

  • Hot ashes 

  • Liquids: Soup, milk, juice, coffee 

  • Natural corks 

  • Non-vegetable oil or grease 

  • Paint, batteries and hazardous household waste 

  • Parchment paper 

  • Pet droppings 

  • Pet litter, even biodegradable 

  • Plastic, even biodegradable or certified compostable 

  • Soil, rock, sand 

  • Soiled toilet paper 

  • Styrofoam and cling wrap

  • Toilet paper 

  • Wax 

  • Wax paper 

  • Wood

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