City to expand successful compost program

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

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 15/03/2013 (4843 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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.

Bruce Bumstead/Brandon Sun
The composting bins for the pilot project are similar to the current garbage and recycling bins only with a green lid instead of black or blue.
Bruce Bumstead/Brandon Sun The composting bins for the pilot project are similar to the current garbage and recycling bins only with a green lid instead of black or blue.

 

“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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