Hamilton is offering residents in wards one through five free compost bins in an effort to cut down on the amount of organic waste piling up in a landfill while the city's composting site is shut down over odour issues.

The reeking Central Composting Facility was shut down in late June after repeated complaints over the smell that was "paralyzing" parts of the city.

People living in wards six to 15 can buy a backyard composter for $35 at any of the City's Municipal Service Centres.

Now anyone with photo ID and proof of their address can pick up a bin through a temporary program starting this weekend.

Here are some fast facts about the composters:

Residents are responsible for their own composting making sure the composters are kept in good condition and used properly.

Composters are not collected curbside by the city.

They must be kept in the backyard.

The composters must be at least one metre from the property line.

You can compost kitchen scraps including fruit, vegetables, peels and trimmings, eggshells, teabags, coffee grinds and filters.

Do not compost meat, bones, grease, fat, cheese, salad dressings or oils.

Here's where and when you can get yours:

Sat. July 28, 2018

Hamilton City Hall Garage

71 Main Street W, Hamilton

8 a.m. to 12 p.m.



Sat. August 11, 2018

Hamilton's Central Composting Facility

1579 Burlington Street E, Hamilton

8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Sat. August 18, 2018

City of Hamilton's Wentworth Operations Centre

330 Wentworth Street N, Hamilton

8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Temporary pick-up locations:

Kenora Community Recycling Centre

460 Kenora Avenue E, Hamilton

July 28 to September 1

Tuesday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

City Hall Garage

71 Main Street W, Hamilton (on the south side of the parking lot)

July 30 – August 3 (8 a.m. to 12 p.m.)

August 7 – 10 (2 p.m. to 6 p.m.)

August 13 – 17 (8 a.m. to 12 p.m.)

August 20 – 24 (2 p.m. to 6 p.m.)