The Honourable Bernard Davis, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, today announced funding to support a regional composting pilot project for the Town of Deer Lake.
With the assistance of more than $9,100, the pilot project will be a regional initiative administered by the towns of Deer Lake, Cormack and Reidville. The project involves the purchase of six Joracan composting bins for placement in easily accessible public locations to allow for quick and easy drop-off of organic material. Four bins will be placed in Deer Lake, one bin in Cormack, and one bin in Reidville. Municipal staff will monitor the waste volumes diverted as well as the level of community involvement during the project.
The goal of the project is to increase organic waste collection and composting in order to decrease the volume of waste going to the Central Regional Waste Management facility in Norris Arm.
Diverting organic waste from Norris Arm will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and production of harmful leachate and decrease waste management costs in the participating municipalities by reducing the volume of waste requiring landfill disposal.
Quotes
“This Regional Composting Pilot Project will help improve composting and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the district of Humber – Gros Morne. Any actions we can take as a government, and as a community as a whole, to reduce waste and help the environment are positive steps in the right direction. I look forward to seeing the results from this project.”
Honourable Andrew Furey, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
“The department is pleased to support this regional pilot project as it aligns with the Provincial Solid Waste Management Strategy target of reducing materials going to landfills by 50 per cent. Approximately 25 per cent of our total waste is currently diverted from landfills throughout the province. In addition, the Multi-Materials Stewardship Board estimates that 30 per cent of total waste generated in the province is organic material. This is a significant waste stream that requires attention as we move forward with the strategy. I look forward to learning about the results of the Deer Lake pilot project with the hope that similar projects can be offered to more communities in the future.”
Honourable Bernard Davis
Minister of Environment and Climate Change
“The Town of Deer Lake is very excited about this pilot project to initiate a community composting program to encourage residents to participate and educate themselves on the benefits of composting. Studies have shown that up to a third of our household waste is organic; projects such as these are a much-needed step in the right direction towards removing waste from our landfill sites. “
Mayor Mike Goosney
Town of Deer Lake
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Media contacts
Meghan McCabe
Office of the Premier
709-729-3960
meghanmccabe@gov.nl.ca
Lynn Robinson
Environment and Climate Change
709-729-5449, 691-9466
lynnrobinson@gov.nl.ca
Jason Young
Director of Communications
Town of Deer Lake
709-635-2451