Lessons Learned from Composting Programs across Northern Canada, Alaska and Greenland

Transcription

1 Lessons Learned from Composting Programs across Northern Canada, Alaska and Greenland Dawson City, Yukon Territory Shannon Ripley photo Gustavus, Alaska Paul Berry photo National Compost Conference, Sept. 23 rd 2014 Kim Rapati, Ecology North and Shannon Ripley, Government of the

2 Outline 1. Background 2. Overview of northern composting initiatives 3. Main lessons learned, challenges & solutions 4. Northern compost network / sharing learning Feeding the land, not the landfill

3 Who We Are Ecology North Non-profit charitable organization since 1971 Public education, climate change & sustainable living Yellowknife Centralized Compost Pilot Project Government of the Northwest Territories Waste Reduction and Management Beverage container program Single-use retail bag program Electronics recycling Organics recycling

4 Purpose of Study Interest Northerners exploring how to effectively reduce waste in our isolated communities Need What conditions do you need for composting to be successful in small communities? Opportunity Northern residents are eager to learn from composting experiences of other northern communities z How can smaller northern communities use Environment Canada s 2013 Technical Document for Municipal Solid Waste Organics Processing which had a target audience of large Canadian municipalities?

5 Benefits of Composting in the North High quantities of paper waste with economic barriers to recycling Need for soil amendments and growth of local agriculture

6 We re Composting! Review of Centralized Composting Projects in Small to Medium-sized Northern Communities Interviewed 11 communities in Alaska, Northern Canada and Greenland Technical, economic and social considerations that have led to successful centralized composting programs Lessons learned are relevant for small and remote communities everywhere

7 Gustavus Disposal and Recycling Centre Gustavus, Alaska pop. 480 Alaska Alaska Waste Commercial Composting Program Anchorage, Alaska pop. 300,000 Gustavus Paul Berry photo Initiation Began in 1996 by a local gardener Began in 2009 Method Passively aerated static piles inside a quonset hut and outdoors SSO from community and Glacier Bay Lodge, mixed with woodchips Indoor in-vessel rotating drum 3m diameter and 10m length Services the ICI sector

8 Dawson City Community Composting Dawson City, Yukon pop. 1,300 Northern Canada Community drop-off sites Landfill operator manages site Mount Lorne Transfer Station Compost Club Mount Lorne, Yukon serves 800 Began in 2013 Hand-built 500 gallon rotating drum Club manages Boreal Compost Enterprises Whitehorse, Yukon pop. 23,300 Began in 1998 Curb-side collection Operator has successful commercial enterprise Yellowknife Centralized Compost Pilot Project Yellowknife, NWT pop. 19,300 Began in 2009 Started with 20 ICI collection bins

9 Northern Canada Kuujjuaq Community Greenhouse Project Kuujjuaq, QC pop. 2,300 Hydro-Quebec Romaine Project Composting Camp Murailles, QC serves 2,000 Ellen Avard photo Started in 2011 Run by mental health re-integration program employees Began in 2009 Camp cafeteria food waste and cardboard In-vessel Makkovik Green Team Makkovik, Labrador pop /article /Labrador-Green-Teams-clean-upcommunities/1 Began in 2008 Youth work experience SSO from 6 homes and 2 businesses Looking for space now Iqaluit Waste Management Project Iqaluit, NU pop. 7,000 Planned curbside collection Volunteer SSO program ran

10 Greenland and Others Sisimiut Compost Facility Sisimiut, Greenland pop. 6,200 Planned facility Urgent issue because they currently incinerate waste/dump in ocean Est. 1,000t/y from residential and 12,000t/y from ICI Other Initiatives Kodiak biosolids Alaska fish waste Olds College compost facility Hay River chicken manure

11 Whitehorse, YT Lessons Learned Operations Yellowknife, NT Gustavus, AK - Paul Berry photo

12 Scale of Composting Composting can be managed at any scale No community is too small to create a composting program Choose technology and operations appropriate for the community - Collection - Composting technology - Site Newfoundland Multi-Materials Stewardship Board Communitymade in-vessel tumbler composter, Mt. Lorne Yukon (pop.800)

13 Collection Methods Can be tailored to the situation Clubs Drop-off Centralized pick-up locations Curb-side collection Pick-up service Grocery store free collection for pilot program in Yellowknife Community drop-off in Gustavus

14 Composting Methods Aerated Static Piles (Whitehorse) Variety of successful composting methods: Turned windrow composting Aerated static pile Small-scale, in-vessel Hand-turned, static pile in a pallet composter In-vessel Systems Recycling innovations: freezer composter Bert Bailie, Powell River

15 Skilled Labour It is essential to have a staff person who can clearly dedicate time to managing the compost program. Training in compost process, science and management Reduce operating costs and mistakes Compost facility operator training Compost Facility Operator Training with John Paul (Transform Compost) in Fort Simpson (left) and Hay River (above)

16 Infrastructure and Equipment The most basic needs for a site are: - Hard base pad (concrete, asphalt or compacted material) - Bear fence - Equipment to mix organic materials ie. front-end loader or bobcat - Method to add water Whitehorse, YT Source equipment that is the proper size for your program Yellowknife, NT

17 Moisture Management Maintaining adequate moisture levels can be a challenge in arid, northern climates. Important to have access to water Proper equipment to contain and add water in an efficient manner. Hose and pump Water truck Specialized equipment High winds Shelter the compost pile to prevent it from drying out too quickly Yellowknife, NT Gustavus, AK

18 Sufficient Pile Volume A significant pile volume is needed to keep the composting process active throughout the winter. Need for more research and sharing of experiences re. optimum pile size during the winter. Some communities insulate windrows with wood chips to maintain heat in the winter (Yellowknife). Other communities prefer to not insulate piles (Whitehorse). Enclosing the compost pile in a building can help (Gustavus, AK). Yellowknife, NT Gustavus, AK

19 Carbon Amendments & Bulking Materials Shredded paper and carbon - excellent local carbon source Chipped clean, untreated construction wood waste from local carpentry shops and schools bulking material Both available options above the tree line. Yellowknife, NT

20 Summer vs. Winter Operations Collection of organics and windrow/pile formation can continue throughout the winter season. Turning of active windrows slows or stops for the winter. Yellowknife insulates windrows with wood chips to maintain heat in the winter. Whitehorse prefers to not insulate windrows. Yellowknife, NT

21 Wildlife Management Electrified bear fence - can be solar-powered Birds are often the biggest nuisance especially ravens and gulls Attempted methods of bird control - Gustavus & Yellowknife Successful methods of bird control: - City of Yellowknife - Gustavus Yellowknife, NT

22 Litter Prevention Clear educational materials for program participants what is and isn t accepted No plastics or metal Inspect incoming waste and remove prohibited items before they are incorporated into the active compost piles Yellowknife, NT

23 Lessons Learned Economics Yellowknife, NT Makkovik, Labrador Whitehors e, YT

24 Cost-Benefit Analysis Importance of undertaking a community cost-benefit analysis of composting - Community values - Cost of operation and long-term management of landfill must be considered

25 Funding Opportunities Private donations Tipping and user fees Commercial operations

26 Lessons Learned Leadership and Partnerships Yellowknife, NT

27 Environmental Ethic Feeding the Land, not the Landfill Composting is not part of northern peoples history; however, there are strong values around not wasting materials Local food production as a driver for community support and participation in composting. Kuujjuaq Makkovik

28 Community Champions Compost leaders Initiative to start program, promote awareness and acceptance Municipality Make waste diversion a priority Harness potential of citizen interest and pilot projects Multiple community champions that partner together Building excitement and interest in the finished compost Deline, NT

29 Partners Diverse management structures for compost facilities Many initiatives have grown from a volunteer, community-based initiative to become a core, municipal project Facilities most successful when strong partnerships work together. Hay River, NT

30 Community Engagement as a Priority Compost at local events Guides for residents and groups Open houses and workshops Compost science at schools

31 Northern Composting Network Interested in learning from others initiatives Keep in touch! Northern Composting Guide

32 Thank you, merci beaucoup, mahsi cho! Kim Rapati, (867) Shannon Ripley, (867) Publications