During discussions of waste disposal, compost came up as a topic at the Sept. 4 Battleford town council meeting.
Figures aren’t exact, but Mayor Ames Leslie said approximately 50 to 65 per cent of households have a green bin.
Councillor Judy Pruden asked if there was a trend regarding who was and wasn’t using green bins. Works Manager Eric Bilianski said it was spread throughout town.
Loraas began transporting waste to its new Battleford facility earlier this year. According to a report authored by Bilanski and Chief Administrative Officer John Enns-Wind, the waste company is developing a compost facility north of Saskatoon and the Town would be in discussions with Loraas about using the facility.
“We really don’t do a whole lot with our compost pile and there’s an opportunity for the Town to profit from some type of partnership with Loraas,” Enns-Wind said.
Enns-Wind mentioned the City of Regina reportedly has plans to implement an organic waste program.
According to a CBC article, organics make up approximately 50 per cent of Regina’s current waste. The cost of an organics program would require an initial $3.5 million investment and would cost $7.9 million annually. Savings for the city could total $4.6 million.
The increase in property tax for a Regina homeowner with a home assessed at $350,000 would be $36 a year.
According to the report by Bilanski and Enns-Wind, recycling bins were made available for use in Battleford 2015.
Compost bins from the Town cost $152.14.
Total waste disposal services is budgeted for $312,063 in 2018. Costs include an administrator, tipping fees, recycling collection, equipment costs and others. Waste collection/disposal is budgeted at $130,470 and recycling collection $107,000.
