A couple of years ago I observed a community compost during a tour of the Steinbach landfill. It had been in operation for more than a year.
The compost was piled on a cement pad designed for drainage and for machines to turn it on a regular basis. The temperature inside the pile was monitored. Compost needs to be warm enough for the process to happen. Once it starts the process it creates heat which keeps it going.
Our tour guide said the pile had been warm enough to compost all winter.
People bring their compostables to the landfill. In the summer it is also collected on Saturday mornings at three depots in town.
Steinbach uses the finished compost in their parks. It is free for people to use in their yards.
Composting reduces waste going into landfills by 30%.
There are 53 composting sites in Manitoba.
The Manitoba government is encouraging more communities to compost.
Grants are available to develop a site and purchase equipment. There are incentive payments for every metric ton (tonne) of compost made.
Composting makes a lot of sense in our community. Most of the black soil here came from somewhere else. Free compost would be put to good use.
A community compost at the landfill makes the most sense in my opinion. Materials for composting should be exempt from tipping fees like tires and metal.
This program is quite new in Manitoba. The mayor of Flin Flon has expressed interest in finding out more.
I am not sure what is available in Saskatchewan for Creighton and Denare Beach.
Composting would be a great program for the whole community, regardless of provincial boundaries.