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City to expand successful compost program

By: Staff Writer

Friday, Mar. 15, 2013 at 11:17 AM | Comments: 0

Composting bins are similar to the current garbage and recycling bins only with a green lid instead of black or blue. (BRUCE BUMSTEAD/BRANDON SUN)

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It's St. Patrick's Day on Sunday — what better time to consider going green?

The city of Brandon is getting ready to expand its "Green Cart" program that collects organic compost material alongside the black refuse carts and blue recylcing carts.

Information sessions are planned for April, as the program is rolled out to up to 6,000 households. A pilot program began in summer 2010 with just 500 volunteer homes.

"We’ve made participating in the Green Cart program as simple as possible for residents," said Ian Broome, the city's director of public works. "You sign up, get your green-lidded cart and fill it with the acceptable organic kitchen, house and yard waste. Then, each week, you simply roll it out for pick-up along with your garbage and recycling carts and the city does the rest."

The new program is not just for single-family homes with yards, as it is also open to multiple family-residences of six or fewer units who wish to share a bin.

The program is free, although households will have to purchase acceptable craft paper bags and compostable waste bags. Participants also get some of the quality compost it produces each year, Broome added.

Information sessions are scheduled for the following dates:

Thursday, April 4	Brandon’s Community Sportsplex multi-purpose room 30 Knowlton Drive	7 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Saturday, April 6	City of Brandon Civic Service Complex 900 Richmond Avenue East	10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Saturday, April 13	Keystone Centre Salon A, 1175 18th Street	10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Tuesday, April 16	Brandon City Hall Main Foyer 410 9th Street	7 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Sunday, April 21	Brandon Earth Day Celebrations at Princess Park 8th Street and Princess Avenue	12 p.m. - 4 p.m.

City administration will be at the info sessions to provide information and answer questions about the program. Sign-up sheets for households interested in participating in the program will also be available.

The city also has a four-minute instructional video touting the program, embedded below.

Green carts are tentatively scheduled to be delivered to program participants in late spring. However, the city will continue taking sign-ups on an ongoing basis until the program is full, after which time any further individuals who sign up will be placed on a waiting list.

Since starting the pilot program in 2010, the city estimates that about 250 tonnes of waste material has been diverted from the landfill.

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