Image Credit: FACEBOOK/Spa Hills Compost
October 26, 2019 - 8:00 AM
The City of Vernon has to cut its organic waste pilot project six months early due to its popularity.
The pilot project that was launched in April this year was expected to run for 12 months, but the program's success led to increased costs and its $5,000 budget is now spent.
The project allowed residents to drop off food and other organic waste at compost-only bins at City Hall and the Schubert Centre. The bins were then collected by Spa Hills Compost.
It was estimated the bins would need collecting once a week, but the popularity of the program meant for the majority of the year, the bins needed two collections per week.
"Increased pick-ups... increased the cost, which meant that the program itself was cut short," City of Vernon spokesperson Christy Poirier said.
It's estimated 232,000 Ibs of food waste was collected during the pilot and diverted from landfill.
"People really are passionate about composting in this community," Poirier said.
The City has now launched an online survey asking residents for their feedback and what they'd like to see in the future in regards to compost in Vernon.
Poirier said there are currently no firm plans about how the City will move forward with the issue of compost but it was part of its Climate Action Plan.
Residents still have a little time left to drop-off compost as the project finally wraps up Nov. 4. The online survey will also be open until Nov. 4.
To take part in the survey go here.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Ben Bulmer or call (250) 309-5230 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.
News from © iNFOnews, 2019