To: Dr. Erika Paterson
From: Claire Abramski
Date: June 15, 2021
Subject: Research Proposal for Determining Methods for Increasing Food Waste Composting in Kelowna, British Columbia at a City Level.
Introduction
Everyone generates waste every day. Waste management is the determining factor of the endpoint of this waste. Most municipal waste eventually ends up in landfills that produce greenhouse gas emissions which contribute to climate change. With climate change we see warming on Earth above global averages. This warming will contribute to increases in events such as heat waves and wildfires which are a recurring problem in Kelowna. Composting is one way to diverge waste from entering landfills and mitigates gases such as methane produced in landfills. The new material made from composting enriches soils by helping them retain moisture and suppress plant diseases and pests. The materials made from composting also encourages the production of humus, which is a nutrient rich material made from bacteria and fungi breaking down organic matter. Composting programs have been reported to reduce household waste by 30-50% while also producing soil enhancing material (Regional District of Central Okanagan).
Target Audience
The intended audience for this report is the Regional District of Central Okanagan and the City of Kelowna as they are the organizations responsible for the waste management programs within Kelowna and the Okanagan region. The report will be given to the compost director, Andrew Kuiper, at the City of Kelowna. A specific contact for the Regional District of Central Okanagan is in the process of acquiring.
Statement of Problem
The City of Kelowna and the greater Regional District of the Central Okanagan currently do not have options for the collection and composting of food waste at a community level. This is problematic as organics (food and yard waste) was found to compose 39% of the waste stream collected at the curbs of residents in the Central Okanagan Region according to the Solid Waste Management Plan Report produced by the Waste Reduction Office of the Central Okanagan. There is curbside collection of yard waste for composting but no collection of food waste. This is problematic as food waste is a valuable material that could also be transformed into nutrient rich soils used to grow food and plants. Currently this material is being discarded into the garbage stream of waste collection and being sent to landfills where they contribute to the production of greenhouse gases such as methane and carbon dioxide. Although residents are encouraged to participate in backyard composting of food waste there is not significant education and promotion of this practice.
Proposed Solution
Curbside pickup of food waste would be the best solution as residents are more likely to participate. It will be easiest for people to incorporate food waste into their waste disposal practices as most already participate in yard waste collection.
If this is not feasible then an education program and promotion of backyard composting is required. One suggestion would be to provide every resident with a backyard composting setup like how every resident is provided with garbage, recycling, and yard waste collection bins. A brochure or instructions on how to properly compost should also be provided or easily accessible by all. To do this additional funding or allocation of funds will be required.
Scope
To assess the feasibility of implementing a curbside collection program or dispersal of backyard composting materials I plan to explore 7 areas of inquiry:
- What are the requirements for input materials needed for composting?
- Are the current methods at composting facilities capable of composting food waste?
- Is there a demand from residents for curbside collection of food waste?
- How much would it cost to implement the collection of food waste?
- Are residents interested in a collection program or would they prefer their own backyard composting system?
- How much would it cost to purchase and distribute at home composting systems to residents?
Methods
The primary source of data collection will be from a survey distributed to people in the Kelowna area or who have lived in Kelowna previously. This survey will ask questions about individuals’ experience with composting and if they desire a composting program in Kelowna. The identities of participants of the survey will be kept confidential. I will also reach out to those applicable at the City of Kelowna and the Regional District of Central Okanagan to determine the feasibility of their facilities and the costs involved.
Link to survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/B9TFGWJ
A secondary source of data will be reviewing literature on the cost of waste collection and processing programs. A look into the composting system run in Calgary will also be reviewed.
My Qualifications
I am an Earth and Environmental student who has a particular interest in sustainability. I participated in Dr. Matthew Nelson’s sustainability class and currently in the process of applying for my masters of sustainability. I am familiar with the composting process as I have composted myself and have done research on the topic. I have lived in a city with a food waste composting program and have also spent the past four years in Kelowna. This makes me familiar with both a city with a feasible program and Kelowna itself. I also have knowledge of soils and their processes due to the topic of my studies.
Conclusion
Composting is an important part of waste management that supports cleaner disposal of residential waste. This topic needs to be addressed more seriously by the governing bodies of the Central Okanagan. By collecting data and addressing the 7 areas of inquiry I will determine the feasibility of implementing a refined composting program within the Okanagan and specifically Kelowna. With approval, I will begin research immediately.
Works Cited:
Central Okanagan. Waste Reduction Office. Final Solid Waste Management Plan. Regional District of Central Okanagan, 2020, https://www.regionaldistrict.com/media/293686/2020_02_20_Final_Approved_RDCO_SWMP.pdf. Accessed 14 June 2021.
Regional District of Central Okanagan. “Composting.” Regional District of Central Okanagan, 2021, https://www.regionaldistrict.com/your-services/waste-reduction-office/composting.aspx. Accessed 14 June 2021.