Composting of Fibre Products

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1 Composting of Fibre Products The Silver Bullet in the Recycling Market Crash? Laurie Gallant Zero Waste Programmer

2 RDKS profile 100,000km² population 40,000

3 Origin of the Question new landfill sited, OC just provided by MOE, may be 2-3 years away from opening site and closing two existing sites Zero Waste Strategy launched to ensure minimum wasted resources to landfill, maximum green collar jobs, and links to sustainable community goals currently fibre recovery options limited to private initiatives (Terrace and Hazelton); these entrepreneurs ship to Rupert, who ship to Vancouver or Asia. three years ago central depot closed and no fibre options existed at all; commercial haulers continued to provide cardboard bin service but OCC was brought to City landfill and burned. fibre represents roughly 30% of our waste stream

4 Zero Waste defined RDKS includes all resource conservation and closed loop programs under the Zero Waste banner Solid Waste component emphasizes proactive enhancement of EPR programs, Local End Market Development, Buy Recycled and Composting; Composting is linked to landscaping, food production, erosion control, and water conservation. Landfill Diversion Credit Pilot Project to advance infrastructure and education projects.

5 Landfill Diversion Credits Based on avoided cost of landfilling - provides $15/ tonne for materials diverted Education Grants provide up to $2K for projects that support landfill diversion Total budget of $30K - doesn t include three largest member municipalities (all have their own landfill)

6 Summary of Applications

7 Fibre composting research Backyard and worm composting Sheet mulching In-vessel with food waste (ICI)

8 Sheet Mulching Trial in partnership with Terrace Anti- Poverty Group at existing community gardens simple way to convert lawn to garden using layers of materials including an inoculation layer will start one year demonstration this spring

9 More on our approach facilitate zero waste solutions through community-based social marketing approaches (identify desired behaviour change that is most likely to succeed based on analysis of barriers and opportunities, design pilot project, evaluate and roll-out on community level) fees and policy tweaking (i.e. business license fees with green certification discount) empowerment by encouraging creativity and providing economic and technical support focus on match-making (i.e. private curbside service with landscapers who can compost) link ICI green audits to specific programs i.e. paper buying club

10 Summary of fibre composting opportunities worm composting residential and commercial backyard composting in-vessel (private sector) sheet mulching possibly windrow finished product to be used for landscaping, gardening, erosion control, landfill cover.

11 Bin distribution

12 Composting promotion

13 Community Partners

14 For best results, cardboard can be either soaked in water, or shredded before being added to the compost. Backyard issues: safety Cardboard, newspapers and brown paper bags are an excellent source of carbon, especially during winter months The glossy coating on most papers and cardboard is actually kaolin clay, so that's okay for the compost pile. The coating protects the paper and delays breakdown. Some cardboard boxes have wax or plastic coatings or tape; these won't compost but won t hurt anything - you pull the tape out later during screening. Paper/cardboard coffee or soft drink cups lined with plastic are also okay but you may want to screen out plastic later. Avoid composting boxes or papers that have fluorescent or metallic inks on them (or fluorescent paper itself) - those pigments can have toxic components.

15 Other local end markets garden mulching (shredded newspaper) animal bedding home insulation biodegradable coffins waste to energy

16 Conclusions Fibre composting and other local end markets are possible for RDKS but by itself may not be a silver bullet but will help with the carbon footprint of recycling and unpredictable costs. Solution will be specific to our region; unlikely we will have a central composting system that accepts all biodegradable material but diversion credits and other incentives may surprise us. EPR for packaging will help with current market problem; will push all packaging to be biodegradable.

17 Discussion Case studies for windrow composting with fibres? Other local end markets for fibre? Safety issues to be aware of?

18 References and post-notes Food not Lawns - How to turn your yard and your neighbourhood into a community. H.C. Flores,2006. Chelsea Green, Vermont USA. The Rodale Book of Composting-Improve your soil, recycle kitchen and yard wastes, grow healthier plants, create an earth-safe garden. Martin and Gershuny, Editors, Rodale Press, Penssylvania USA. Raven Recycling in Whitehorse, Yukon for case study Large scale worm composting systems demonstrated at North Okanagan RD s Xerindipity Gardens (locally made outdoor unit with plug-in for light bulb generated heat). Large scale fibre composting compatibility with biosolids composting (follow up with Gord Light, City of Kelowna). Confirm parameters around fibre composting under Organic Matter Recycling Regulation Equipment requirements for all scales of fibre composting - utility knife or speciality scissors for the kitchen, tub grinder to co-run cardboard with prunings at public works facilities.