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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Ecology North expects a huge increase in available compost material this fall as the city's three-year compost pilot project begins to produce recycled material for gardening.

Shannon Ripley, an environmental scientist with Ecology North, deposits organic material in the compost pile at the City of Yellowknife Solid Waste Facility. - NNSL file photo

The first batch of compost, an estimated 12 to 15 tonnes, is expected to be available for sale to the public, or for use by the city, in June.

Another 100 to 120 tonnes is should be ready by October, according to Shannon Ripley, an environmental scientist with Ecology North.

She was one of the presenters at the solid waste forum held Tuesday night at Northern United Place, with close to 40 people in attendance.

The difference in the size of the two batches is partly due to there having been no paper shredder for boxboard in the fall of 2009 and summer of 2010, which meant a large volume of paper product failed to decompose properly the first year.

As well, in the summer of 2010, Ecology North tried a composting method whereby PVC pipe was placed under the material. Ripley said this effort didn't work as well as the traditional method of turning the organic material, due to a lack of oxygen getting into the slowly decomposing substance.

"The temperatures dropped after the first few days and never really rose again," Ripley said. "So with not enough air getting in, the organics didn't decompose all that well in that test pile."

In 2011, there was also a greater amount of yard waste incorporated into the composting process than during the first summer of 2010, she said.

Ripley said 200 "Earth Machine" composters can hold 80 gallons (300 litres) and will be available for sale at the solid waste facility in June.

Henry Kruse, the city's solid waste facility co-ordinator, demonstrated to the audience with a pie graph that the city is trying to find ways to reduce organic waste, which represents 26 per cent of materials being sent to the landfill, and paper waste, which represents 37 per cent.

Eight recycling awards were given out by Mayor Gord Van Tighem and Dennis Kefalas, director of public works and engineering, last week.

The recipients included Mildred Hall School, Sir John Franklin High School, St. Joseph School, EBA Engineering, Velma Sterenberg, Ecology North Roving Recyclers, Canadian Tire and Ruby Trudel of Food Rescue.

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