Coalhurst to look into organic collection options

Posted on September 5, 2024 by Sunny South News

By Nikki Jamieson
Sunny South News

After turning down a pilot program, Coalhurst will be looking into potential options for organics collections. 

Council had previously received a presentation for a pilot program by Food Cycle Science back in May, and had asked administration to come back with more information.

The FoodCycler Pilot Program purpose is to measure the viability of on-site food waste processing technology as a method of household waste diversion. The program would see the town purchase 100 FoodCycler units for a total cost of $33,400. Residents would then buy the units, allowing for $22,500 to be returned to the town from residents’ purchasing them. Life Cycle would also buy back any unsold units after a year, although the town would be responsible for shipping.

Food Cycle was wanting 100 households in Coalhurst to join the pilot. If the town chose to join, basically, for a 12-week period, participating residents will track their weekly usage of the FoodCycler during each week of the trial. At the end of the trial period, they must report their usage and answer a number of survey questions, which will be provided by Food Cycle Science and approved by the town. The survey results  would be shared between the town and Food Cycle Science. 

According to the initial proposal letter in May, 137 municipalities had signed onto the pilot.

Returning to the matter during their regular Aug. 27 meeting, Coun. Heather Caldwell noted that the anticipated date for this to be done was September and didn’t believe that they had enough time to implement it and be part of the pilot project “and receive all those wonderful benefits, cost savings”. According to the information package in the council agenda, the trial period will be for 12 weeks starting on or before Sept. 30, 2024. 

“That would indicate that our residents would have to have this in their homes and already start tracking by that date,” said Caldwell. “I suspect that we might not even, if we approve this and move forward, we probably wouldn’t have them in office by then, I’m not sure.

“This might be a bit of a loss lead, which is really disappointing.”

When pointed out that the pilot tracking doesn’t start until that date, Caldwell said that the town would still have to received them, and residents would have to purchase the  FoodCycler units and have them in their home by that start date and be ready to start tracking.

“We haven’t even put it out to the community, like we haven’t had any conversation that said this might be something we do. And I, you know, not saying it’s impossible. I’m saying let’s just keep this in mind and have a conversation about the short timeline.”

The confirmation order would need to be received by the Food Cycle team by no later than Aug. 31.

Interim CAO Karlene Betteridge said if council chooses to go down this path, administration would work with the company to communicate Coalhurst’s needs and how to meet the timeline.

Coun. Deborah Florence asked, noted it only pertained to household matter, and not lawns or other sources, if the town had considered a transfer site for yard and household organic collection.

“Right now, we don’t have the room at the current site, but that could be an option,” said Kevn Lewis, director of operations for the town, noting it had been discussed in the past.

Coun. Jesse Potrie asked that since the study was only for 12 weeks, if you don’t have to continue using the device afterwards. Mayor Lyndsay Montina said that was how she read it. Lewis confirmed that as the residents would be purchasing the units, they owned them after the study period and could do what they want with them afterwards.

Potrie proposed a motion to proceed with the program, noting that it was subsidized and it gave residents an option. Coun. Scott Akkerman and Florence spoke against the motion, citing uptake and cost concerns. Caldwell also spoke against it, noting that while she was initially excited about it, she had concerns about ongoing costs for using it. Montina spoke against it, stressing a desire to look into different options for organics a bit more.

Council defeated a motion to direct administration to proceed with the FoodCycler Pilot Program for a 100-household pilot program. Council then passed a motion to directed administration to research household and yard organics collection or management programs for municipalities such as organics collection or yard compost bins and report back to council with options for consideration no later than January 2025.