By Barb Brouwer, Black Press
The Columbia Shuswap Regional District will be looking at the food we eat – and throw away.
The regional district board approved a recommendation by solid waste management co-ordinator Ben Van Nostrand to allocate $60,000 for a food waste composition study and regional waste composition study.
Van Nostrand told the board there has been a growing demand to move into food waste composting from member municipalities and the public.
“Food waste can account for 20 to 40 per cent of typical household refuse and recycling that content will help move the CSRD towards its goal of zero waste,” he wrote in his report to the board. “However, it’s important to understand the true cost impactions of moving forward with a collection and recycling program for food waste materials.”
Van Nostrand advised directors the waste composition study conducted at the Salmon Arm landfill in 2006 provided information for the development of the solid waste management plan.
Staff have now proposed to conduct waste composition studies at all CSRD landfills in 2013.
Van Nostrand says the studies are key to implementing new waste diversion initiatives and to assessing existing programs.
With board approval secured, CSRD will release a request for proposals.
“Consultants will be selected and the work will commence and be finalized with a report.”