Composting in Montreal in comparison to Edmonton, Halifax and Toronto. Maryam Kargar

Transcription

1 Composting in Montreal in comparison to Edmonton, Halifax and Toronto Maryam Kargar

2 Outline Introduction ü Solid waste management hierarchy ü What is composting? ü Why compost? Issues and suggestions ü Lack of open space for landfills ü Acceptance of citywide composting ü Compost marketing Conclusion

3 Introduction Solid waste management hierarchy

4 What is composting? Composting is the biological decomposition and stabilization of organic substrates, under conditions that allow development of thermophilic temperatures as a result of biologically produced heat, to produce a final product that is stable, free of pathogens and plant seeds, and can be beneficially applied to land (Haug, 1993).

5 Why Compost? Canada 32,000,000 tones of municipal solid waste, annually the second largest producer of solid waste in the world 4% Storm water green infrastructure services 21% 4% 71% Landfilling Incinera7on Recycling Compos7ng Moisture retention

6 The objective of the study Why is municipal composting vigorously adopted in some large Canadian cities (Edmonton, Halifax and Toronto), but not in others (Montreal)?

7 Lack of open space for land/ills (Edmonton) 1990s danger of reaching the maximum capacity of its landfill Since 2000 Edmonton composting facility the largest in North America Diverting about 60 percent of its residential waste from the city landfill

8 Lack of open space for land/ills (Halifax) In the early 1990s landfill, built in a wetlands area, had caused severe environmental damage that affected nearby residents. $5 million as compensation to the community buying out the adjacent homes

9 Halifax Community Stakeholders Committee involved 500 residents and Halifax Regional Municipality integrated solid waste strategy Dartmouth composting facility (Miller facility) The Stinnes Enerco plant (New Era Farms) Diverting about 59 percent of its residential waste from the city landfill

10 Lack of open space for land/ills (Toronto ) 2002 the City's Keele Valley Landfill (largest in Canada and third largest in North America) closed filled to capacity Trucking solid waste to Michigan Cost of waste disposal: $53 per ton Trucking solid waste to Green Lane landfill site Cost of waste disposal: $18 per ton Cost of waste disposal: $88 per ton

11 Dufferins organics processing facility Conporec Composting facility Halton Recycling's plant in Newmarket Guelph, Ontario's co-composting plant Diverting about 47 percent of its residential waste from the city landfill

12 Montreal Landfill sites closer and less expensive Lachenaie landfill Sainte Sophie Landfill 1989 Integrated Solid Waste Policy to reduce the quantity of waste eliminated by 50% by the year 2000 the waste diversion rate only 10.4% for organic materials City of Montreal (2008 ) limited collection program for yard waste Composting pilot projects across boroughs including Verdun, the Plateau-Mont-Royal, and Westmount

13 Westmount Garden waste and leaves composting Food scraps composting Community group, members of city hall and consultants Phase I ) 520 homes Phase II)1500 homes Phase III)2700 homes Composting in Montreal East Now % diversion of solid waste 60% diversion of solid waste from landfill

14 City-wide composting infrastructures place by buildings on 4 sites planned to be in Reducing Montreal s landfill-bound organic waste by 60 % by 2020

15 Acceptance of citywide composting q The public must be educated about the benefits of waste recovery Edmonton ü Composting workshops ü Master composter /recycler program Halifax ü Multi-stakeholder waste management planning ü Consensus-based public decision-making ü Education program Toronto ü Public education

16 Acceptance of citywide composting Edmonton ü Waste management policy C527 in City policy of Edmonton (acted in 2007) divert 90% of the residential waste stream from landfill by 2012 Fostering high rates of participation in sustainable waste practices Halifax ü Mandatory source separation ü Reduced garbage collection Toronto ü Stick (residential pay-as- you-throw system to encourage waste diversion) and Carrot (tax credit)

17 Compost marketing Farming Horticulture City parks Absorbents (oil and gas extraction) Compost Erosion control Residents Urban Landscape Mine rehabilitation

18 Challenges of compost marketing Sales of compost are slower than expected ü Lack of knowledge about compost ü Contamination of the final product ü the management of leaf and yard waste ü overcome past management errors that continue to haunt the current operation Product pricing does not reflect all costs inherent in the product life cycle

19 Suggestions Promoting recovery of materials in procurement policies Offering economic incentives (like tax credits) to encourage waste recovery. Research and development Collaboration between ministries of natural resources and education ministries to train future business leaders in spirit of sustainable development life cycle assessment Harmonization in standards (Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Guidelines, Standards Council of Canada )and definitions at the international level

20 Conclusion landfill crisis motivating the development composting activities Waste diversion policy needs the assist of municipalities in implementing their waste management plans The necessity of public education and legitimate obligations for public partnership A diverse array of stakeholders in a program( government, non-government organizations, private organizations and the public) Secure end markets for finished compost are essential to the long term sustainability of residential organic waste diversion

21 Special thanks to: Dr. Peter Brown Dr. Goldberg Dr. Naylor Dr. Clark Dr. McCartney Dr. Heroux Dr. Leonard Dr. Sussman Ms. Peter Julien Malard