City gearing up for compost week

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This article was published 03/05/2023 (1240 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Brandon’s green cart composting program has diverted nearly 18,000 tonnes of waste in its 10-year history.

That is according to the city’s solid waste manager, Scott Haddow, who came before Brandon City Council on Monday evening to promote upcoming International Compost Awareness Week festivities being planned for later this month and the successes of the green cart program.

The voluntary program, which runs in spring, summer and fall every year, allows residents to have their organic waste collected and turned into compost rather than being dumped into the Eastview Landfill.

On top of the physical waste diverted, it is estimated the program has led to the reduction of 4,800 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, the equivalent of removing approximately 9,936 vehicles from Brandon’s streets over the last decade.

When the green cart program was first launched as a pilot, 500 residents participated. Now, Haddow said more than 9,500 locals are taking part.

A previous research study conducted by Lord Abbey, formerly of Assiniboine Community College and now a professor at Dalhousie University, showed that using compost from the city’s green cart program led to higher yields and better health for vegetable crops.

This year, International Compost Awareness Week takes place May 7-13.

Local events celebrating the week include the return of the “soil your undies” challenge.

In that challenge, residents are encouraged to buy a pair of 100 per cent cotton white underwear and bury it in about 15 inches of soil in their yard with the waistband sticking out on May 8.

After approximately two months, on July 7, residents remove their buried undies and see how much material is left.

The idea is that soil with a healthy amount of biological activity for growing plants will eat up much of the underwear.

Haddow used pictures of former mayor Rick Chrest as an example, who is seen holding an intact pair of underwear in one and holding a waistband with just a few strings of fabric left attached to it in the other.

Residents participating in the challenge are encouraged to take their own before and after photos. A limited number of pairs of underwear will be handed out by the city.

Also being given out is free compost at the Keystone Centre, with each household allowed to pick up a maximum amount of 75 litres during three periods: 9 a.m. to noon on May 9, 4 to 7 p.m. on May 11 and 9 a.m. to noon on May 13.

Multiple school tours of the landfill are being arranged for the week, with a focus on the city’s composting efforts.

Coun. Barry Cullen (Ward 3) reminded residents at the meeting not to put any plastic bags of any sort in their green bins as it can prevent collected material from composting properly.

Residents who want to join the green cart program can sign up by visiting brandon.ca/green-cart-program/green-cart-program-signup.

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