The city currently does not collect organic waste (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

COMPOSTING

Local residents pushing city to implement organic collection in Kamloops

Aug 28, 2019 | 9:18 AM

KAMLOOPS — Shelaigh Garson is a dedicated composter. She composts all her organic waste, which breaks down slowly with the help of earthworms.

“The benefits are immeasurable. I’m an organic gardener and I grow a lot of my own foods, so I don’t want to put anything into my soil that I don’t know where it came from,” said Garson.

The end product is rich soil and nutrient-rich juice she just adds when watering her luscious backyard garden. Garson knows her composting method is quite advanced, but she feels if the city enabled compost pick-up, people could easily jump on board.

“It’s diverting a lot of that kitchen waste and garden waste from the landfill because generally speaking, if it’s not easy for people, they don’t tend to do it,” she noted.

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Addie de Candole has been pushing for city-wide organic collection for the last couple years. The group she’s working with has collected more than 1,300 signatures encouraging the city to make it happen. She’s researched different muncipalities, including the City of Calgary, which recycles its organics with biosolids.

“They have a large facility with in-vessel composting and they collect the biosolids and food scraps from people, from residences and commercial. It’s all composted in one facility. Sixty days coming in and out and it’s done,” said de Candole.

De Candole made a presentation at city hall on Tuesday and felt mayor and council were receptive to the idea of compost collection.

The city, which has been looking at the best ways to deal with its biosolids, is aware of such an option. But staff say it’s in the beginning stages of looking at options with a pricetag to follow.

“The pickup of the organics is the relatively easy part of the equation. Where do we take that waste?” said streets and environmental services manager Glen Farrow. “Just like our cardboard right now, we’re collecting cardboard. Where do we currently take that cardboard is the challenge.”

Regardless of what the city decides, Garson will carry on with her composting. But she would love to see it become more widespread.