Just in time for gardening season, Sparwood District Council has begun looking into a countertop composting pilot project.
If approved, the FoodCycler Pilot Program could see upward of 100 units brought to the community for residents to purchase at a subsidized rate.
Mayor David Wilks says a countertop compost processing unit can help cut down organic waste in Sparwood while avoiding conflict with wildlife.
“The challenge with other forms of reducing food waste for Sparwood is trying to hold onto that for a week before collection,” said Wilks.
“At some point in time, it will start to smell and we have wild animal issues as well if you try to store that outside.”
Other communities across B.C., including Nelson, have tried this pilot program with positive results.
“Compostable material in curbside garbage from FoodCycler homes has dropped from 52 per cent to 37 per cent, with further reductions expected as education efforts expand,” said a report from FoodCycle Science.
“10 tonnes of by-product have been dropped off at the collection sites annually, representing roughly 40 tonnes of wet food scraps diverted.”
However, Sparwood’s Manager of Corporate Services Megan Rawles says the program offers fewer benefits over other organic waste reduction methods.
“[Nelson’s] final report notes that the volume of waste diverted from landfills was lower than traditional curbside organics programs and the reduction in greenhouse gas was modest,” said Rawles.
“The City of Nelson plans to expand their organic waste program using organic waste processors.”
Details on Sparwood’s involvement in the pilot project are still in the early phases, so the exact number of units and the cost to the district’s budget are still unknown.
“Some of the considerations will include defining waste reduction goals and environmental benefits, the costs of initial investment and ongoing operational costs, logistics support and challenges including storage and distribution, training for participants, program promotion and community engagement, as well as staff involvement and workload,” said Rawles.
A detailed report and proposal will come back to council chambers at a future meeting.
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