Hamilton residents from Wards 1 to 5 in the north end, can now pick up free backyard composters. This comes after the city’s main composting plant shut it’s doors indefinitely and everything that would be going in the green bin, is now going to the landfill.

A chance to recycle in your own backyard.

Hundred’s of people have already picked up their free composting bins. Some who do this regularly.

The budget for the program is $70,000. At the end of the summer, the city will collect the data to see if they want to open it city wide.

Heather Donison says this reduces the waste going to the landfill while simultaneously fertilizing your garden.

She suggests proteins like meat, milk, cheese and eggs be put in the garbage rather than outside, to prevent vermin and odours.

You can dump your kitchen waste and your yard waste in every single day, and you only have to stir it about once a month.

The city says this is a temporary solution while they continue to investigate the smell that caused the composting plant to shut down.