COLD LAKE - The City of Cold Lake is exploring a new way to tackle food waste with the introduction of the FoodCycler Pilot Program, a compact composting solution aimed at reducing organic waste from households.
The initiative first gained traction after Jacob Hanlon from Food Cycle Science presented a virtual PowerPoint to City Council on Aug.13, proposing the program as an approach to food waste diversion. Following that presentation, the idea was referred to the Corporate Priorities Committee for further review, with a discussion taking place during a Sept. 17 meeting.
"I just want to share with you what the City currently offers in regards to food diversion and then give you some options for a pilot program as an additional solution," said Lisa Ford, General Manager of Community Futures Lakeland.
Ford explained that according to a 2014 audit, 42 per cent of residential waste consists of organic and food waste. The city currently provides bi-weekly green bin collection from April to November, and free year-round compost drop-off at the waste management facility.
Ford shared her research on the FoodCycler program, highlighting how it could reduce food waste in Cold Lake. She proposed starting with a minimum of 100 participants to gather useful data. Under this plan, the municipality would subsidize each unit by $100, with residents covering the remaining $200 to $300, depending on the unit's size.
Coun. Chris Vining expressed interest in the idea, noting it was largely up to residents to decide whether they wanted to participate.
“It’s a neat concept,” said Mayor Craig Copeland. “We’re curious to see what kind of interest we get back from the community.”
He added, “We’re always looking for ways to improve our environmental footprint . . . And there are a lot of positive economic impacts from recyclers like these.”
According to information from the City of Cold lake, council plans to subsidize 100 FoodCycler units through a sign-up program, allowing residents to register and pay a portion of the cost.
With the municipality covering $100 per unit, the composting bins will be available at a discounted price of $200 to $300, depending on the size. Smaller units are recommended for households of one to three people, while larger units are ideal for bigger households.
After the pilot program wraps up, participants will keep the units. Additional details on how to sign up for the program will be provided as the launch approaches.
Council made a recommendation to administration to collaborate with Food Cycle Science to implement a community organic recycling pilot program. The goal is to understand how much organic waste can be diverted from residential properties, with $10,000 allocated for the program's rollout.
