Food Waste Collection Pilot Program

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Food Waste Collection Pilot Program

The Food Waste Collection Pilot Program (food waste pilot) was implemented as a step toward achieving one of the priorities set out in the 2023 to 2032 Waste Management Strategy. Diverting food waste from being disposed of in the landfill will help preserve air space in turn extending the life of the landfill and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The foot waste pilot involves nearly 4,000 participating residents located in 15 waste collection routes throughout the city.

In April 2024 one kitchen bucket for collecting food waste items, to empty into the green organics cart, was delivered to the participating residents with detailed instructions and information for the food waste pilot. The pilot, which included the collection of the green organics carts, concluded on December 31, 2024.






The Food Waste Pilot Has Ended and Here Are Some Achievements...

  • The food waste pilot achieved a 30% reduction in food waste within the garbage stream, indicating pilot participants are using their kitchen bucket and green cart!
  • The majority of pilot participants would be very likely to participate in a city-wide food waste collection program if implemented in the future.

What We Heard From Pilot Participants

  • The pilot has effectively engaged residents and promoted better waste management practices.
  • Based on survey results, after participating in the food waste pilot for a few months residents had fewer concerns about the implementation of a future city-wide food waste collection program.
  • The biggest concerns about a food waste collection program were the messiness and added cost for an additional waste management service.

Final Collection Day for the Food Waste Pilot

After nine months of weekly collection, pilot households will have their final green cart collection the week of December 24 - 31, 2024. Pilot households are welcome to keep their kitchen bucket for personal use or with a private food waste collection service. As a reminder, green carts put out for leaf and yard collection after December 31, 2024, will not be collected. Green carts should be stored as usual over the winter, ready for use in the 2025 leaf and yard collection program.

We thank all of you who participated in the pilot and all those who have shown interest in it by sharing feedback through surveys or attending the Open House in September.





The Food Waste Collection Pilot Program (food waste pilot) was implemented as a step toward achieving one of the priorities set out in the 2023 to 2032 Waste Management Strategy. Diverting food waste from being disposed of in the landfill will help preserve air space in turn extending the life of the landfill and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The foot waste pilot involves nearly 4,000 participating residents located in 15 waste collection routes throughout the city.

In April 2024 one kitchen bucket for collecting food waste items, to empty into the green organics cart, was delivered to the participating residents with detailed instructions and information for the food waste pilot. The pilot, which included the collection of the green organics carts, concluded on December 31, 2024.






The Food Waste Pilot Has Ended and Here Are Some Achievements...

  • The food waste pilot achieved a 30% reduction in food waste within the garbage stream, indicating pilot participants are using their kitchen bucket and green cart!
  • The majority of pilot participants would be very likely to participate in a city-wide food waste collection program if implemented in the future.

What We Heard From Pilot Participants

  • The pilot has effectively engaged residents and promoted better waste management practices.
  • Based on survey results, after participating in the food waste pilot for a few months residents had fewer concerns about the implementation of a future city-wide food waste collection program.
  • The biggest concerns about a food waste collection program were the messiness and added cost for an additional waste management service.

Final Collection Day for the Food Waste Pilot

After nine months of weekly collection, pilot households will have their final green cart collection the week of December 24 - 31, 2024. Pilot households are welcome to keep their kitchen bucket for personal use or with a private food waste collection service. As a reminder, green carts put out for leaf and yard collection after December 31, 2024, will not be collected. Green carts should be stored as usual over the winter, ready for use in the 2025 leaf and yard collection program.

We thank all of you who participated in the pilot and all those who have shown interest in it by sharing feedback through surveys or attending the Open House in September.





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We're here to help answer your questions related to the Food Waste Pilot program you are participating in. 

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  • Share Why on earth would the ity discontinue this program? It seems like a no Brainerd. Same decomposible product creating great compost, same bin, no extra work or cost? on Facebook Share Why on earth would the ity discontinue this program? It seems like a no Brainerd. Same decomposible product creating great compost, same bin, no extra work or cost? on Twitter Share Why on earth would the ity discontinue this program? It seems like a no Brainerd. Same decomposible product creating great compost, same bin, no extra work or cost? on Linkedin Email Why on earth would the ity discontinue this program? It seems like a no Brainerd. Same decomposible product creating great compost, same bin, no extra work or cost? link

    Why on earth would the ity discontinue this program? It seems like a no Brainerd. Same decomposible product creating great compost, same bin, no extra work or cost?

    Toontownman asked 4 days ago

    We completely understand the frustration as it does seem like a no-brainer given the environmental benefits and diversion of waste from the landfill. While it appears straightforward, there can be a variety of factors at play when making these decisions. Often, council needs to assess the long-term feasibility, broader community support, and any logistical or regulatory considerations. The pilot program is still being evaluated, and we’re hopeful that the positive outcomes will make a compelling case for a city wide roll-out. It is important to note that this pilot project material collected needed to be processed by a completely separate system. To extend the pilot would have also incurred additional cost. Obviously, if it was in fact no additional work or expense, it would have been extended without hesitation. You are correct however, there was no additional expense on the collection of the material. Your feedback is incredibly valuable, and it’s conversations like this that can help push the program forward.

  • Share I am in the food waste pilot project and absolutely LOVE it!!!!\ I have gone from 2 small garbage bags a week to 1 small garbage bag every 2 weeks. I see the project ends at the end of December...please don't make me start using our garbage again :) on Facebook Share I am in the food waste pilot project and absolutely LOVE it!!!!\ I have gone from 2 small garbage bags a week to 1 small garbage bag every 2 weeks. I see the project ends at the end of December...please don't make me start using our garbage again :) on Twitter Share I am in the food waste pilot project and absolutely LOVE it!!!!\ I have gone from 2 small garbage bags a week to 1 small garbage bag every 2 weeks. I see the project ends at the end of December...please don't make me start using our garbage again :) on Linkedin Email I am in the food waste pilot project and absolutely LOVE it!!!!\ I have gone from 2 small garbage bags a week to 1 small garbage bag every 2 weeks. I see the project ends at the end of December...please don't make me start using our garbage again :) link

    I am in the food waste pilot project and absolutely LOVE it!!!!\ I have gone from 2 small garbage bags a week to 1 small garbage bag every 2 weeks. I see the project ends at the end of December...please don't make me start using our garbage again :)

    Pat Krecsy asked 5 months ago

    Thank you so much for your enthusiasm! We are excited for the future and hopeful to be able to go citywide. Our pilot will be evaluated and findings brought forward to City Council for budget consideration in the near future.  

    Dallas 

    City of Medicine Hat

  • Share Hello, as we get to the end of the grass cutting season I have a question about the food waste I am collecting. Some weeks there will not be any yard cuttings. I like to put my food waste on top of the cuttings so that the green bin does not have a mess left in the bottom of it. I am wondering if I can use something in the bin once the grass is no longer being collected and how the collection process will work through winter as the food waste is going to freeze in the bin and collect through the winter months. Is there going to be collection of food waste through the winter months after yard waste collection is done? Also, I can get biodegradable bags at Costco for both the large bin and the small bin we keep in the house. I would like to know if these are acceptable to use through the months that there are no yard cuttings. Thank you for your time. on Facebook Share Hello, as we get to the end of the grass cutting season I have a question about the food waste I am collecting. Some weeks there will not be any yard cuttings. I like to put my food waste on top of the cuttings so that the green bin does not have a mess left in the bottom of it. I am wondering if I can use something in the bin once the grass is no longer being collected and how the collection process will work through winter as the food waste is going to freeze in the bin and collect through the winter months. Is there going to be collection of food waste through the winter months after yard waste collection is done? Also, I can get biodegradable bags at Costco for both the large bin and the small bin we keep in the house. I would like to know if these are acceptable to use through the months that there are no yard cuttings. Thank you for your time. on Twitter Share Hello, as we get to the end of the grass cutting season I have a question about the food waste I am collecting. Some weeks there will not be any yard cuttings. I like to put my food waste on top of the cuttings so that the green bin does not have a mess left in the bottom of it. I am wondering if I can use something in the bin once the grass is no longer being collected and how the collection process will work through winter as the food waste is going to freeze in the bin and collect through the winter months. Is there going to be collection of food waste through the winter months after yard waste collection is done? Also, I can get biodegradable bags at Costco for both the large bin and the small bin we keep in the house. I would like to know if these are acceptable to use through the months that there are no yard cuttings. Thank you for your time. on Linkedin Email Hello, as we get to the end of the grass cutting season I have a question about the food waste I am collecting. Some weeks there will not be any yard cuttings. I like to put my food waste on top of the cuttings so that the green bin does not have a mess left in the bottom of it. I am wondering if I can use something in the bin once the grass is no longer being collected and how the collection process will work through winter as the food waste is going to freeze in the bin and collect through the winter months. Is there going to be collection of food waste through the winter months after yard waste collection is done? Also, I can get biodegradable bags at Costco for both the large bin and the small bin we keep in the house. I would like to know if these are acceptable to use through the months that there are no yard cuttings. Thank you for your time. link

    Hello, as we get to the end of the grass cutting season I have a question about the food waste I am collecting. Some weeks there will not be any yard cuttings. I like to put my food waste on top of the cuttings so that the green bin does not have a mess left in the bottom of it. I am wondering if I can use something in the bin once the grass is no longer being collected and how the collection process will work through winter as the food waste is going to freeze in the bin and collect through the winter months. Is there going to be collection of food waste through the winter months after yard waste collection is done? Also, I can get biodegradable bags at Costco for both the large bin and the small bin we keep in the house. I would like to know if these are acceptable to use through the months that there are no yard cuttings. Thank you for your time.

    Kathy asked 7 months ago

    Hi Kathy, great questions!
    If you have any old newspaper or flyers I recommend lining the bottom of your green cart with those, as that should help keep your cart clean.
    Since this is a pilot program, we plan to continue collecting the green carts in the pilot areas through to the end of December. This will help us learn more about how collection works in the cold weather months. The contents will freeze, but if you line the bottom the cart it will still, hopefully, fall out during collection.
    If you have found biodegradable paper bags, then yes you can most certainly use those in your green cart or in your kitchen bucket. We cannot, however, accept plastic bags in the green carts.
    Let us know if you have any further questions! Thanks for reaching out. :) 

    Hailey
    City of Medicine Hat

Page last updated: 03 Feb 2025, 01:38 PM