Region temporarily out of green bins

Residents looking to pick up an extra green bin are out of luck, for now.

The Region of Waterloo said hundreds of homeowners have been picking up green bins as the region's new garbage collection system rolls out.

So far this year, the region has given away 11,000 bins compared to the 20,000 total in all of 2016.On Monday alone, the region gave away 700 green bins.

• New garbage rules kick in for the region this week
• Kitchener to sell new garbage bag tags in 14 community centres

"It's an unfortunate inconvenience for our residents but it's actually a great problem for us," said Cari Rastas Howard, project manager, waste management programs at the Region of Waterloo.

"If we are running out of green bins, that's because so many people have picked them up to take them home to use them and that's what we want."

More bins on the way

The region will be getting more green bins by the end of next week and another shipment will arrive bythe beginning of April.

Rastas Howard said when they turn people away, they will record their email and inform them once they have bins available.

"We will make a big announcement once we have some more," she said.

Once bins are available, people can pick them up at:

• 925 Erb St. W., in Waterloo
• 201 Savage Dr. in Cambridge