Swift Current's Composting Program

The city of Swift Current began a compost program similar to Moose Jaw's in 2001.

The City contracted Canadian Waste to do a residential pick up every two weeks. Citizens are asked to package their non woody yard waste in clear plastic bags. The compostables are delivered to a site managed by Delta Rock and Sand, where they are debagged by part time workers paid by the city. Delta Rock and Sand mixes the leaves, grass clippings, weeds and cuttings with manure from a Heartland Livestock operation. Composting is done in outdoor windrows.

There had been hopes that some compost would be available for use in the fall of 2001, but it was not deemed ready. This spring, Delta Rock and Sand began marketing bulk compost and a blended topsoil/compost mix.

Dan Knutson, a technologist with the City of Swift Current, is pleased with the first year of operation. In 2001, 1200 cubic metres of residential yard materials were diverted from the landfill, a useful product was made locally and some employment was created.

Swift Current Community Composting Program

(Source: WasteWatch, June 2002)

Composting in Swift Current—Speeding Along

You could call the City of Swift Current a seasoned (or would that be seasonal?) composter. In addition to promoting back yard composting and composting with worms, the City has provided curbside pick up of yard materials since 2001.

Swift Current residents use clear plastic bags to participate in the program. Acceptable materials include: grass clippings, weeds, plant stalks and tree leaves. Residents are asked not to include tree branches and food scraps.

The pick-up service is offered every two weeks from mid-April to early November. Waste Management Inc., Swift Current’s designated waste hauler, makes an extra pass around the city every second garbage day to gather the yard materials. The bags are delivered to Delta Rock and Sand.

Debagging is done by Fine-Option workers, a service organized by the Salvation Army. Delta mixes the compost materials from Swift Current residents with cattle manure and straw bedding from nearby Heartland Livestock to create outdoor windrows.

Delta Rock and Sand is located next to the exhibition grounds in Swift Current. The compost production, done at their site, is an addition to their regular business of supplying aggregate and topsoil. Delta produces a high quality product. They sell the mature, screened compost for $19.50 per cubic yard or $3.50 a five-gallon pail.

(Source: June 2005 WasteWatch)

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