The Hinton Voice
Fram Dinshaw- Thu, Apr 11, 2013
Hintonites can learn about the benefits of composting – an activity pegged as critical to waste diversion – at a workshop titled ‘Composting: let it rot!’ being held April 17.
People can learn about the best way to compost, how to speed up the process, choosing the right bin, as well as what materials and equipment they need. Instruction will also be provided to help troubleshoot any problems and dispel any myths, such as heaps being dirty or attracting vermin.
Mike Schwirtz, director of infrastructure services for the Town of Hinton, said that if Hintonites compost their food and organic waste, they’ll not only have more fertilizer for garden plants, but by recycling it will also reduce the amount of town landfill waste by a total of 35-40 per cent.
“When you look at the amount of waste going into Hinton’s landfill, we’re at the Alberta average of 1,100 kg per person per year. If we’re to remove that 35-40 percent by composting, it’s over one third of garbage that’s no longer going into the waste stream,” said Schwirtz.
To build a sustainable community, Schwirtz said the town had to create environmental awareness around waste collection and recycling, saying it was “part of an evolution.”
Currently, just 12 per cent of garbage in town is diverted from the waste stream by recycling or composting, putting Hinton well below the provincial average of 20 per cent, according to Schwirtz.
But if the town can successfully promote composting to Hintonites, not only will their recycling rates rocket far above Alberta’s average, but garbage that would otherwise be dumped in the landfill will instead be used by townsfolk as soil material, natural fertilizer, and outdoor cover material.
“People will figure out another way to use that stuff,” said Schwirtz.
Composting is already starting to catch on in some quarters, as the Hinton Community Greenhouse Society (HCGS) is keen to have its members do it more in order to help their plants grow.
“Ours isn’t that large-scale yet,” said HCGS president Jamal Nasrabadi. “First we must learn to do it properly before we can expand.”
The session runs from 7 – 8:30 pm in the library’s Teck Coal room. Attendance is free, but people wishing to attend must pre-register by April 15 by calling the library at (780) 865-2363.
Similar sessions are being held in Edson and Evansburg.
Link to original Hinton Voice Article