As Quebec bans organics in landfills

Gatineau ends free compost program

Gatineau has put an end to its free compost distribution program. Following the introduction of a compostable materials collection in 2011, with the well-known brown boxes, the City this month explained that the program’s main goals -- to raise awareness of the value of vegetative wastes, free pick-up, and the final benefit from these efforts, free compost for residents’ gardens – have been met. Diverting organic wastes away from garbage collection and landfill sites was also a main goal.

“Six years later, participation in compostable materials collection is a part of Gatineau’s citizens’ daily life. Monitoring the program, we have noticed that raising awareness has had a discernable impact on the citizens’ participation. The amount of compost sent to the composting plant annually is at least stagnant, if not trending downward”, specified a city spokesperson.

The free distribution of compost took place one weekend per year, at four sites across Gatineau, including the one in Aylmer. The City adds that “more than 2,000 households were in the program each year. However, 20% of those who signed up did not come for finished compost. Therefore, only 1% or 2% of the population (about 4,000 people) benefited from the compost program.”

 

The City notes that now “actions will be taken to raise the citizens’ participation in the composting program, and therefore respect the coming provincial ban on organic materials in garbage. As a first step, compostable plastic bags will be permitted in the compostable-materials collection, starting in April 2017.”  The city is also encouraging residents to wrap their waste in old newspaper before dumping it in the brown boxes.

Denise Laferrière, councillor for Hull-Wright and president of City Council’s Environment Commission, suggests that banning compostable matter in the garbage could increase organics going into composting. She did not explain how that ban might be enforced. “We have to increase the amount of compost because, in a few years, landfill sites will not allow any organic material.”  Getting this word out to everyone is now the challenge facing the city.

(Trans.: SP)