The RM of a De Salaberry and Village of St. Pierre are into the second year of a three-year national pilot project to test the viability of an organic composting program in a rural area. The municipalities received funding for the trial from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. De Salaberry Reeve Marc Marion says they are steadily getting more people involved in the experiment.
"The first year we had about 55 people, we're at about 70-80 people now. Our target is to get at least 30% of the 500 properties that are eligible to participate in this project."
Marion says the project is focused in the St. Pierre, St. Malo and the Otterburne areas. Participants place all of their organic waste into a special container which is picked up weekly by the municipality and taken to a compost site at the landfill. He notes people who have signed up are upbeat about the program.
"The feedback that I'm getting right now is that it is a learning curve for everybody because it is a personal responsibility for everyone to sort anything that is compostable. But once people get into the habit of doing so, I think it is very positive."
Marion says, when people realize the volume of waste that can be separated for compost, it's pretty amazing. He adds that's one of the main goals of this project, to keep organic waste out of the landfill which extends the life of the facility and thereby saves money.
He notes they are currently talking to neighbouring municipalities like the RM of Morris to see whether they would be interested in the program.
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