Montreal has a public compost collection system. The majority of Montreal residents have compost day just like they have garbage day, when they put their compost bins on the curb and they're collected by the city.
According to the city of Montreal, 25% of the waste that gets thrown in the garbage is food waste. That means that approximately 25% of the waste piling up landfills could have a different fate. The poutine you couldn't finish, the croissant that got stale, the stems and seeds from the veggies you got at Marché Jean Talon...it could all go into the compost bin, rather than the garbage can.
In a landfill, food waste decomposes and releases methane into the atmosphere. Methane is a greenhouse gas, and it contributes to climate change. If composting is done properly, methane can be used as energy, and the food scraps can be turned into fertilizer to help farmers with their crops.
The city collects compost once a week. They give you a countertop compost bin for you to toss your food scraps into as you cook, and a bigger bin that you put outside for collection on the appropriate day. By publicizing compost collection, the city encourages this greener and more sustainable way of living.
