Vernon to extend community compost program

Feb 15, 2022 | 7:00 AM

With composting options coming to Vernon residents in May, the city is going to extend the existing compost bin program to fill that gap.

The existing program that was launched in 2021 has compost bins set up for residents to dispose of their organic waste. Over the course of the year, the program diverted an estimated 379.28 tonnes of organics from the landfill.

The program ended in December, but with there being several months before residents have access to their own organics bins, the city wanted the program extended.

It was also noted that extending the program will benefit residents in apartment buildings, as the household collection program will not include them.

During the Feb. 14 regular council meeting, council was asked to vote on whether to leave the bin in place at the recreation centre through to the end of 2022. Depending on how it’s used over the course of the year, council could make a decision in the future to keep the bin in place or to have it removed.

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During the meeting Councillor Scott Anderson noted that trash often winds up in the bins, contaminating the compost. He suggested having a garbage bin set up next to the compost bin and that the city should work with the contractor to find a solution to that problem.

Mayor Victor Cumming stated that continuing the program at one site is beneficial, but wondered if more could be done.

“My own experience is that the large bin at Kin Race Track has been very heavily used, and I see it says keep the one [at the recreation centre], but it doesn’t mention that particular one (at Kin Race Track), and that particular one is right across the street from a whole series of apartment buildings,” said Cumming.

“I think we need to look, in our next round, at where keeping bins makes sense.”

He tasked city staff with investigating key areas for community composting bins, mentioning the Schubert Centre as another area that could use a bin.

Cumming also said they should look at a composting partnership with School District 22 so that in-school management of organics could happen.

“We have found in the past that SD 22 is really interested in sustainability, they’re moving a number of their buildings to geothermal and their doing a number of things with students, and maybe one of the things that we can engage in a conversation with them is about how they want to manage their organics,” explained Cumming, adding that organic separation is going to be a very hot topic when the composting bins become available for residences.

“It would be really valuable if we had a conversation with SD 22 about how we can help them. Maybe it’s just a series of 240 (litre) bins with green lids on them. I don’t know what it would be, but I think that’s a really important partner who’s really going to take the Climate Action Plan very seriously.”

After the mayor tasked administration with these two initiatives, and Anderson asked that they find a solution to keeping garbage out of the compost bins, council voted unanimously in favour of extending the program with the bin at the recreation centre.

It’s estimated that continuing to offer the service will cost the city $12,000, which will be covered by the Climate Action Revolving Fund. A total of $15,000 is being diverted for this program, and unused money will be returned to the fund.

by Liam Verster

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