In recent years, there is an increasing awareness in regard to the environment. Companies and cities get organized; it becomes easier therefore to take concrete steps to reduce our environmental footprint. Composting is a good example. According to Statistics Canada, between 2006 and 2013, the number of households that practise composting increased from 13% to 45% (1).
Of course, this requires adaptation, but it has been implanted quite a few years ago already in some municipalities. For your convenience, the brown bin must be accessible and ideally at the same place as the other trays. It is advisable to inform the tenants by installing informative posters and also with written memos. The City of Montreal also offers tips to you. For instance: avoid putting liquids in the tray to limit odours and freezing in winter, put the brown bin in the shade and have food layered with dry materials.
The City of Montreal wants to offer the collection of compostable food waste in all boroughs by 2019. This service is already offered in nine boroughs. The project is to implement this service in residences but also in all buildings with eight units or less. For information on the frequency of collection and the dates on which they take place, we refer you to the information-gathering site (2). You will also find information there about special collections such as large waste, autumn leaves and yard and garden waste or landscaping leftovers. Concerning the latter, each borough organizes several collections during the summer. In these collections, “Green” waste can be deposited not only in the brown bin for compost, but also in boxes or brown paper bags. It is also possible for you to bring your compostable waste to the various eco-centres of the municipality, or in each borough.
In addition, the City of Montreal offers compost to its citizens, twice a year, for those who would like to procure some for their gardening. Simply come, with a container and a proof of residence, to the Environmental Complex of Saint-Michel (CESM) at 2235 Michel-Jurdant (3). This complex is a sorting and processing centre of various waste of the city. Compost is produced there, but also electricity from biogas generated by the landfill there.
Remember that a measure such as composting can help achieve provincial and federal objectives in matters of the environment. This sorting helps to reduce pollution caused by the landfills. In summary, kitchen and garden waste, once compacted with other waste, produce biogas, which in turn, contributes to global warming.
In short, composting is a measure to which we must adapt to add it to the service of a rental property. The demand is growing and the adoption of this lifestyle seems increasingly inevitable.
(1) http://www.fil-information.gouv.qc.ca/Pages/Article.aspx?idArticle=2402176270
(2) https://servicesenligne2.ville.montreal.qc.ca/sel/infocollectes/?lang=fr
(3) http://ville.montreal.qc.ca/portal/page?_pageid=7237, 75372019 & _dad = portal & _schema = PORTAL