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Mark Pendergraft, the chair of the board with the RDOS, is very pleased the federal government and Federation of Canadian Municipalities have provided $175,000 in funding so the Regional District can expand its composting programs.
Regional District receives $175,000 to expand its composting programs across the region
Dan Albas, Member of Parliament for Okanagan-Coquihalla, and Brad Woodside, president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and mayor of the City of Fredericton, New Brunswick, last week announced a Green Municipal Fund (GMF) grant for the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS).
The RDOS will put the $175,000 in funding toward a feasibility study of technical and financial options for new composting programs. Reducing organics going into local landfills will reduce leachate and greenhouse gases (GHGs), create sustainable jobs and give farmers access to local compost.
“The federal government is committed to helping regions across the country to achieve their goal of a cleaner and healthier environment for their citizens through the Green Municipal Fund,” said Albas. “This announcement is another example of how our government — in partnership with the FCM — is helping the South Okanagan build a greener future for our citizens.”
Woodside agreed.
“The Green Municipal Fund offers a range of resources and services that specifically address the sustainable community development needs of municipal governments,” said Woodside. “The financing and knowledge provided by the Fund support the development of communities – and encourage practices – that are more environmentally, socially and economically sustainable.”
The RDOS will evaluate composting locations and determine the equipment, methodologies and site management practices required to divert organics from landfills.
The study will focus on options that increase landfill lifespan, produce compost for agriculture and landfill cover, control odour and reduce transportation costs and GHG emissions.
The study will include a review of government and private-sector options for composting services while consulting with First Nations and other stakeholders.
The RDOS will share findings with other communities considering starting their own composting programs.
“The RDOS recognizes that compost sites can create odours if improperly sited or not run well,” said RDOS board chair Mark Pendergraft. “Our goal is to look at a variety of options so that we can make the best decision possible. This grant helps our communities as we start to turn food and other organics from garbage into valuable compost.”
The Government of Canada endowed the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) with $550 million to establish the Green Municipal Fund.
The Fund supports partnerships and leveraging of both public and private sector funding to reach higher standards of air, water and soil quality, and climate protection.
FCM has been the national voice of municipal governments since 1901. It fosters the development of sustainable communities.
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