 *Photo: Unsplash*
A smelly garbage bin is one of those household problems that compounds quickly — especially in Montreal. July and August heat turns a kitchen bin that smells "a little off" into a full-scale odour problem within days. And with Montreal's mandatory composting program (the Bac Brun), residents now have three bins to maintain instead of one. This guide covers all of them: the kitchen bin, the outdoor garbage and recycling bins, and the Bac Brun — with Montreal-specific timing for each.
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Why Montreal Bins Get So Bad So Quickly
Montreal's climate creates the ideal conditions for accelerated bin odour:
Summer Heat Amplifies Everything
During July and August, Montreal regularly reaches 28 to 35°C outdoors and 25 to 30°C inside apartments without air conditioning. Organic food waste — vegetable peelings, meat packaging, fruit scraps — begins to decompose within 24 to 48 hours at these temperatures. Bacteria multiply exponentially. By day 3 or 4, a half-full kitchen bin can produce a smell that travels throughout the unit.
Montreal's August holiday weeks (when garbage collection may shift by one day) can extend the time between pickups to 8 or 9 days, making this especially acute in late summer.
The Bac Brun Changes the Math
Since the rollout of Montreal's mandatory brown organics bin, kitchen food waste goes directly into the Bac Brun rather than the landfill garbage bin. This is excellent for the environment. It is less excellent for your sense of smell. The Bac Brun is designed to be rinsed, not washed — but many residents do neither. In July heat, an unrinsed Bac Brun becomes a fruit fly breeding ground within 5 to 7 days.
Pre-War Triplexes and Shared Garbage Rooms
In many Plateau, NDG, Rosemont, HoMa, and Villeray triplexes built in the 1890s to 1940s, garbage bins are stored in a shared enclosed space: a backyard lean-to, a basement garbage room, or an enclosed side passageway. These enclosed areas trap heat and odour. A single neglected bin from one unit affects all three tenants.
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Kitchen Garbage Bin: Weekly and Monthly Protocol
What You Need
- Dawn dish soap or biodegradable equivalent (Attitude, Method) — IGA/Maxi ~$3–5
- Baking soda — Maxi/IGA/Costco ~$3/kg
- White vinegar 4L — IGA/Maxi/Metro ~$3–5
- Lysol Disinfectant Spray or equivalent — IGA/Maxi/Jean Coutu ~$5–8
- Rubber gloves — Dollarama ~$3–5
- Long-handled scrub brush — Dollarama/Canadian Tire ~$3–6
- Paper towels or old microfibre cloth (designated "bin cloth")
Weekly Maintenance (5 minutes)
1. Empty the bin completely. Remove the bag, tie it, and take it out. 2. Wipe the interior. Use a damp paper towel or bin cloth with a small amount of dish soap. Wipe the bottom and sides where liquid seeps under the liner. 3. Spray with disinfectant or a 50/50 white vinegar and water solution. Let it sit 2 minutes, then wipe dry. 4. Deodorize the bottom. Before putting in a new bag, sprinkle 2 tablespoons of baking soda on the bottom of the bin. This absorbs future odour and liquid. 5. Replace with a new liner.
Monthly Deep Clean (15–20 minutes)
Once a month — more often in July and August — take the bin to the shower, bathtub, or outdoor hose area:
1. Rinse with cold or lukewarm water first to remove residue. Hot water fixes protein-based stains before soap has a chance to lift them. 2. Apply dish soap inside and out. Scrub all surfaces, especially the bottom, with a long-handled brush. 3. For persistent odour, make a paste of baking soda and water. Apply to the interior, scrub, let sit 10 minutes, rinse. 4. For mold spots (common in July–August humidity), spray with a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution (available at Jean Coutu/Pharmaprix ~$3). Wait 5 minutes, scrub, rinse. 5. Rinse thoroughly with cold water. Let air-dry completely before replacing the liner — a damp bin is worse than a dirty one.
Lid and Pedal Cleaning
Don't forget the lid. The interior of a step-bin lid accumulates grease, condensation residue, and odour-causing bacteria. Wipe the underside with your diluted dish soap cloth every week.
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The Bac Brun: Montreal's Organics Bin
The Bac Brun (brown compost bin) collects food scraps, soiled paper, compostable containers, and garden waste. It is collected weekly in most Montreal boroughs.
Weekly Summer Rinse (Year-Round in July–August)
Every week after Bac Brun collection, rinse the empty bin:
1. In the backyard, on the balcony, or in the shower — rinse with cold water to remove juice residue and food particles. 2. Optional: add 1 tablespoon of baking soda, swirl with 500 mL of water, rinse out. Eliminates odour-causing bacteria for several days. 3. Let air-dry for 30 minutes before putting in new lining paper (newspaper, paper bag, or Bac Brun liners available at IGA/Maxi for ~$5–8).
Pest Prevention in Summer
- Fruit flies are the primary pest. They lay eggs in the Bac Brun bin within 24 hours of food deposit in July heat. The single most effective solution: rinse the bin weekly and use a paper liner that absorbs liquid.
- A handful of baking soda on the bottom of the bin absorbs moisture and prevents fly-egg-friendly wet surfaces.
- Cedar chips (Canadian Tire ~$8/bag) placed in a small mesh bag in the bottom of outdoor bins repel insects naturally. Safe for compost.
- The City of Montreal and some eco-shops distribute Bac Brun deodorizer sachets (enzyme-based, free or ~$5/pack). These are highly effective at neutralizing the sulphur and ammonia compounds produced by decomposing organic matter.
- Close the lid immediately after depositing food scraps. Never leave it ajar.
Spring Thaw Protocol (April–May)
After Montreal's November to March winter, the Bac Brun may have residue frozen to the bottom that thaws in April. This is the year's highest-odour moment. In April or May:
1. Use a garden hose outdoors to rinse the interior thoroughly. 2. Scrub with dish soap and a long brush. 3. Treat any mold spots with diluted white vinegar or 3% hydrogen peroxide. 4. Air-dry before the first warm-weather collection.
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Outdoor Garbage and Recycling Bins
Blue Recycling Bin (Bac Bleu)
Recycling contamination — pizza boxes with grease, bottles with residue, sticky lids — leaves residue inside the blue bin that builds over months. Annual cleaning, ideally in May before fly season and again in October before winter, prevents the bin from becoming a secondary odour and pest source.
Annual blue bin clean: 1. Hose out with cold water. 2. Scrub with dish soap. Pay attention to corners. 3. Rinse completely. Air-dry outdoors. 4. No disinfectant required for recycling bins.
Black Garbage Bin (Bac Noir or Poubelle)
The black garbage bin handles non-recyclable and non-organic waste. Since the Bac Brun now handles most organics, the black bin stays cleaner than before — but leaking bags and pet waste still cause odour and residue.
Monthly spray with Lysol or a white vinegar/water solution inside the lid and bin walls keeps odour manageable without a full wash.
Annual full wash (spring and fall) as with the blue bin.
Shared Triplex Bins
If your bins are shared with other tenants in a triplex, the landlord is responsible for providing bins under Quebec Civil Code Article 1854 (peaceable enjoyment of the dwelling). Cleaning responsibility is shared by usage. If a tenant's garbage is causing odour in a shared space, this may constitute a habitation complaint under the Civil Code.
Document the problem in writing to your landlord if a shared garbage room becomes a habitability issue. Keep photos with dates.
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TAL Move-Out Context
At lease end, landlords may inspect the unit's garbage and recycling area. Under Quebec jurisprudence:
- A bin returned in normal condition (with age-appropriate odour from regular use) is normal wear — not chargeable.
- A bin with visible mold growth, permanent staining from organic spills, or pest infestation evidence may be chargeable if caused by negligence.
- The landlord must provide working bins — malfunctioning lids, cracked bins, or missing bins are landlord obligations.
Photograph your bins at move-in and move-out to document their condition.
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Product Reference: Montreal Sourcing
| Product | Use | Where in Montreal | Cost | |---|---|---|---| | Dawn/Sunlight dish soap | Bin wash | IGA/Maxi/Dollarama | ~$3–5 | | Baking soda | Deodorize bottom | Maxi/IGA/Costco | ~$3/kg | | White vinegar 4L | Disinfect/deodorize | IGA/Maxi/Metro | ~$3–5 | | Lysol Disinfectant Spray | Weekly wipe | IGA/Maxi/Jean Coutu | ~$5–8 | | 3% hydrogen peroxide | Mold treatment | Jean Coutu/Pharmaprix | ~$3 | | OdoBan concentrate | Heavy odour | Canadian Tire | ~$12 | | Bac Brun deodorizer sachets | Organics bin odour | City hall / eco-shops | Free–$5 | | Cedar chips (mesh bag) | Outdoor pest repellent | Canadian Tire | ~$8 | | Long-handled scrub brush | Interior scrub | Dollarama/Canadian Tire | ~$3–6 | | Rubber gloves | Hand protection | Dollarama | ~$3–5 |
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Maintenance Schedule
| Frequency | Task | |---|---| | After every emptying | Add 2 tbsp baking soda to bottom before new liner | | Weekly (July–August) | Rinse Bac Brun after collection; wipe kitchen bin interior | | Monthly | Full kitchen bin deep clean; Bac Brun scrub; black bin spray | | April–May (spring thaw) | Bac Brun deep clean after winter freeze-thaw | | May + October (annually) | Full outdoor blue and black bin wash |
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Internal Links
Related guides on Sparkling Stays: - [How to Deep Clean a Kitchen in Montreal](/blog/how-to-deep-clean-a-kitchen-montreal) - [Move-Out Cleaning Checklist for Montreal Apartments](/blog/move-out-cleaning-checklist-montreal) - [Eco-Friendly Cleaning in Montreal](/blog/eco-friendly-cleaning-montreal) - [Home Cleaning Service](/services/home-cleaning) - [Deep Cleaning Service](/services/deep-cleaning)
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FAQ
Q: How often should I clean my kitchen garbage bin in Montreal?
A: In summer (June through August), clean the interior weekly and do a full deep clean monthly. In winter, a deep clean every 4 to 6 weeks is sufficient. The summer protocol matters most because Montreal temperatures of 28 to 35°C accelerate bacterial decomposition dramatically. If you use a liner every time and add 2 tablespoons of baking soda to the bottom, the weekly clean takes under 5 minutes.
Q: How do I stop my Bac Brun from smelling in summer?
A: Rinse the Bac Brun with cold water every week immediately after collection. Add baking soda to the bottom to absorb moisture. Use a paper liner (newspaper, kraft paper bag, or certified compostable liner available at IGA and Maxi) to separate wet food from the bin walls. Freeze strong-smelling scraps (meat trimmings, fish skin) in a bag until collection day. Cedar chips in a small mesh bag on the bottom repel insects. The City of Montreal distributes free enzyme deodorizer sachets for Bac Brun bins — ask at your borough hall or check eco-depots.
Q: Can I use bleach to clean my garbage bin?
A: Yes for a plastic garbage or recycling bin, but it is not recommended. Bleach mixed with organic residue inside the bin produces strong chlorine fumes in an enclosed space and may affect the Bac Brun's composting process if rinsed into the compost bin. White vinegar (acetic acid) and 3% hydrogen peroxide are more effective for odour and mold than bleach, safer to handle, and produce no toxic fumes. Save bleach for disinfecting hard bathroom surfaces.
Q: How do I get rid of fruit flies coming from my garbage bin?
A: Fruit flies lay eggs in moist organic matter. The solution has three parts: (1) Remove the garbage bag daily during peak July–August heat. (2) Rinse the bin interior weekly to remove the organic film fruit flies feed on. (3) Add baking soda to the bottom before replacing the liner to absorb moisture. For the Bac Brun, rinse weekly after collection and keep the lid sealed. A bowl of white vinegar with a drop of dish soap left near the bin traps adult fruit flies. Do not use aerosol insecticides near composting waste.
Q: My building has shared outdoor garbage bins that smell badly. What are my rights?
A: Under Quebec Civil Code Article 1854, your landlord must provide you with peaceable enjoyment of the dwelling, which includes a habitability standard for common areas. If a shared garbage room or outdoor bin area is generating odours that affect your unit's habitability, document it in writing to your landlord (keep a copy). If the problem is caused by another tenant's waste, the landlord has an obligation to address it. The Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL) handles complaints where landlords fail to maintain habitability in common areas.
Q: What is the best way to deodorize a garbage bin without chemicals?
A: The most effective natural protocol: (1) Add 2 tablespoons of baking soda to the bottom of the clean bin before replacing the liner. (2) Place a cedar chip sachet (Canadian Tire ~$8) in the bottom for insect repellency. (3) Keep a small open container of baking soda near the bin to absorb ambient odour. (4) Use white vinegar diluted 1:1 with water as a weekly interior spray — acetic acid neutralizes both ammonia-based and sulphur-based odour compounds. (5) For the Bac Brun, use City of Montreal enzyme deodorizer sachets. These are biodegradable and compost-safe.
