https://youtube/watch?v=BbsFP4arddc City Council candidate Keith Bellamy for the Daniel McIntyre, today committed to work towards implementing a residential food scraps collection program. He noted that studies suggest that organic materials and compostable paper products make up about 30-50% of all household waste. Bellamy says there are a number of ecological benefits to treating organic food waste differently than other waste and recyclable materials. “One of the most frequent complaints I hear is the lack of innovative thinking on City Council,” said Bellamy. “The environment is one of a number of areas where we are lagging behind other jurisdictions in Canada. I see an opportunity for Winnipeg to get up to speed when it comes to waste management by implementing a residential composting program.” Curbside pick-up compost programs that include both food scraps and yard waste have been implemented with success in a number of communities elsewhere in Canada. Complementing backyard waste and neighbourhood composting programs, curbside pick-up programs have led to a significant increase in household compost participation rates. Bellamy suggested that it is time for a biweekly curbside pick up program to be introduced, enhancing the City’s existing yard waste compost collection program. “Three years ago residents of Winnipeg took part in the SpeakUpWinnipeg consultation process for OurWinnipeg. At that time almost 63% of citizens said the City should implement a comprehensive organics composting program,” said Bellamy. “Several large Canadian municipalities have had programs for over a decade, yet this year Council further delayed a pilot program here.” Bellamy pointed out a number of benefits to organic waste diversion, including: •Extending the life of City landfills; •Reducing methane gas and other greenhouse gas production; •Converting waste into useable products such as fertilizer and soil for City, neighbourhood and personal use; •Converting waste the into renewable fuels, such as biofuel and electricity through methane capture); and, •Creating local jobs and supporting a local green economy. Bellamy believes the program should be piloted in the Daniel McIntyre ward, noting that residents in the area are known for their commitment to the environment and sustainability practices. He also noted that the diverse mix of housing stock and the wide variety of household incomes and populations, as well as active community organizations, would make Daniel McIntyre an ideal pilot community. “I think that the residents in our area will be enthusiastic about piloting a green bin program in Daniel McIntyre, and we can play a leadership role in preparations for a City-wide roll out,” said Bellamy. Bellamy said that the success of a residential food scraps and yard waste curbside compost collection program could lead to a similar compost program for local businesses, including the large number of restaurants and other establishments in the Downtown and West End areas. Bellamy said that a curbside compost collection program should include apartment pick up, and would also support local neighborhood collection and composting initiatives. “The City of Winnipeg can and should improve its reputation for environmental stewardship,” said Bellamy. “This means following through on forward-thinking policy choices, including diverting our organic waste. We also need to further explore the ways we can turn our recycled and organic waste into valuable products for residential and City use.”
Posted on: Fri, 22 Aug 2014 06:23:48 +0000
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