Western Canada's first multi-family, automated, on-site composting system up and running
In September, the City of Coquitlam, part of Metro Vancouver, B.C., held a “Rocket Launch” to showcase what is being called Western Canada’s first multi-family, automated, on-site composting system. The Rocket automated composter is in full operation at Malaspina Village, a Metro Vancouver housing complex, recycling food scraps and slashing waste hauling costs.
“Reducing the amount of food waste we produce in the first place is the best option” said Malcolm Brodie, Chair of Metro Vancouver’s Zero Waste Committee. “But for unavoidable food waste like potato peels and rotting fruit, compost is king.”
Waste composition studies consistently show there’s a lot of food and other organic waste in the garbage. On average, about a third of the average household’s garbage is food waste.
Metro Vancouver is working to promote food waste reduction and to establish or strengthen composting programs throughout the region as part of its goal to achieve an overall 70 per cent composting and recycling rate by 2015, and a 20 per cent rate by 2020.
“With Metro Vancouver’s 2015 organics disposal ban fast approaching, on-site composting is one of the options for the multi-family and commercial sectors,” Brodie said at the Sept. 21 event in Coquitlam. “Along with regional-scale food scraps collection at the curbside and backyard composting, on-site systems will help us achieve our zero waste goals.”
The Rocket is one example of an automated composter. It processes up to 20 kilograms of mixed organic materials per day and delivers high-quality compost within six weeks. The temperature, moisture, aeration and microbial activity are controlled to accelerate decomposition.
The unit and support structure cost $30,000 and are expected to pay for themselves within 4 -5 years, via waste hauling and landscaping cost savings.
For several months, Metro Vancouver staff has tested how to best introduce onsite composting to multi-family residences. The best practices from this project will be included along with other studies as part of an upcoming Multi-Family Toolkit for building managers and municipalities.
Based on the successes at Malaspina, Metro Vancouver says they are considering introducing similar systems to its other housing sites.
