Turning Over an Old Leaf

Saskatchewan communities work on composting

Up to half of the garbage generated in summer months is compostable. Communities can divert this waste from landfill and create a product that can be used locally to enhance soil quality. SWRC’s Sustainable Composting Project will provide technical assistance and training to allow Saskatchewan communities to take advantage of the waste reduction potential that composting offers.

Meadow Lake is closing its current landfill and has joined with surrounding communities to create the Northwest Waste Management Authority. The Authority has constructed a new regional landfill that cost $1 Million and is expected to last seven years at current waste generation rates. Meadow Lake’s plan to start a community compost site and to increase back yard composting will help extend the life of that expensive landfill.

Rosetown’s composting program is operated by the Wheatland Regional Centre. SWRC will be working with the Wheatland Regional Centre to help them refine their composting process and to prepare for the Town’s move to a user-pay system for garbage. With implementation planned for the fall of 2009, the user-pay for garbage program is expected to significantly increase usage of the composting program.

Shaunavon has run a community composting site for several years. They will be looking to improve citizen participation in their program and to increase the number of residents who make compost in their own back yards.

Wynyard is celebrating Compost Awareness Week by having community volunteers trained as Master Composters, who will then be able to provide local composting programs and expertise. Wynyard is also working on a centralized composting program.

Yorkton has adopted a goal to achieve zero waste to landfill by 2026. A significant step to achieving this target will be to establish viable options for compostable materials. The city will start a pilot composting program, focusing first on internally-generated materials. Yorkton will also promote back yard composting and other ways residents can generate less yard wastes.

Sherbrooke Community Centre is a progressive long-term care facility in Saskatoon that houses 270 residents and over 100 day program participants. Their yard wastes and greenhouse materials are already recycled through composting and other methods. Sherbrooke is examining options for composting the food wastes generated by its residents and staff.

The Sustainable Composting Project is funded jointly by Environment Canada’s EcoAction Community Funding Program and the Province of Saskatchewan’s Green Initiatives Fund.

(Source: May 2008 WasteWatch)

Back to Composting main page

Back to Resources main page

Back to Home page