Residents in Alfred-Plantagenet could eventually have new options for getting rid of food scraps and other organic waste, as the township looks at introducing a composting program to help extend the life of its municipal landfill.
The municipality is exploring ways to reduce the amount of garbage being sent to the landfill, with composting being considered as a possible long-term solution.
Jonathan Gendron, the township’s Director of Infrastructure, is recommending a gradual approach rather than immediately introducing a full municipal compost collection service.
The first step would involve encouraging residents to compost at home by offering subsidized compost bins, along with an information campaign explaining how composting works and its benefits.
The idea is to make it easier and more affordable for households to begin separating food scraps and other compostable materials from their regular garbage.
Once a home composting program is established, the township could look at expanding the service.
Two possibilities being considered are a central composting location where residents could drop off organic waste, or a municipal green bin program that would collect compostable materials directly from homes.
A study would help determine which option makes the most sense for Alfred-Plantagenet, taking into account costs, collection requirements and the needs of residents across the municipality.
A curbside green bin program would offer convenience, while a community drop-off location could provide an alternative without requiring a separate collection service throughout the township.
No final decision has been made on which approach, if any, will be introduced.
The main goal is to reduce the amount of waste going into the Alfred landfill and help keep the facility operating for as long as possible.
The township currently provides weekly household garbage collection, with each home limited to one 120-litre municipal garbage bin. Residents who need to put out additional garbage must purchase special tags.
The municipality also allows residents to bring leaves, grass clippings and small branches to the Alfred landfill free of charge.
A composting program could build on those existing services by giving residents more ways to keep organic materials out of their household garbage.
With a new municipal council preparing to take office following the October 26 election, the composting proposal will be brought back for further consideration.
The incoming council, led by newly elected Mayor Antoni Viau, will have the opportunity to review the recommendations and decide whether to move forward with the proposed program.
For now, composting remains an idea under consideration, with no confirmed launch date or approved plan for municipal green bin collection.
The township’s long-term objective is to reduce waste, encourage more environmentally friendly habits and avoid filling up the municipal landfill sooner than necessary.