Composting in Yellowknife
The City of Yellowknife is making composting easy with our Curbside Cart Program which includes organic waste collection for residential areas throughout Yellowknife! Unlike a backyard compost bin, we can accept a wider variety of organics! You may be surprised that meat, bones, dairy, compostable packaging including pizza boxes can all be put into your household green compost cart for collection.
Compostable organic material is delivered to The Compost Facility and converted into rich compost. It is blended with woodchips, yard waste and shredded cardboard then placed into long piles called "windrows". Once the material is finished converting into compost, it is useful at the Solid Waste Facility for a variety of things. If the compost passes CCME testing, it may be made available for sale.
Composting Process
The windrows at the compost facility must be regularly maintained as it uses oxygen and heat-activated bacteria to decompose the organic material. The upkeeps allows for a suitable environment that allows microbial activities to transform the material into compost. An appropriate mixture of carbon and nitrogen require monitoring of moisture, oxygen levels and porosity. Temperature is regularly monitored due to a large amount of heat generated which can reach above 60°C for a few days during the early phase of decomposition. Once the compost begins to cool down, the pile is screened and set aside to continue the curing process for the next 10-12 months.
Benefits to Composting
Approximately 40% of all material that ends up in the landfill could be composted. When you separate organic materials from your garbage, you help reduce your own carbon footprint, extend the life of the landfill, and conserve valuable resources!
Reduces Environmental Impacts
- Composting diverts almost 1000 tonnes of organics annually that would otherwise end up in the landfill, therefore helping to extend its lifespan
- Prevents the natural moisture in food from turning into landfill leachate as it moves through the rest of the waste
Reduces Carbon Footprint
- Reduces greenhouse gases by trapping carbon, reducing methane generation and converting organics into a stable form of carbon
- The compost produced can be used for a wide array of applications as the Solid Waste Facility, mainly as cover soil to place over the landfill cells. Research has shown that compost makes for an excellent cover for landfills due to its ability to absorb methane emissions
Make your own garden and lawn healthy by composting at home! Compost is an excellent soil conditioner that improves microbiological activity, soil structure, and water retention. Compost acts like a sponge, helping soil retain moisture and nutrients. This reduces the amount of water and fertilizer needed.
What happens at the City of Yellowknife's Compost Facility? |
| Collected organic compostable material is taken to The Compost Facility located at the Solid Waste Facility. The compostable material is placed into long piles called "windrows" and regularly maintained to ensure it uses oxygen and heat-activated bacteria to decompose and convert into compost. |
What can be Composted? |
Acceptable materials that can fully undergo the composting process and can be added to your green compost cart for collection:
If the item you are searching for is not included in this list, please email sustainability@yellowknife.ca with a description of the item for further instructions. Please note: Only BPI Institute certified compostable plastics will be accepted by the compost facility. Certified compostable materials will have the following logo (pictured below) directly on the plastic. If there is no logo, the item is not certified and belongs in the garbage stream (e.g. #7 PLA plastics).
|
What cannot be Composted? |
Unacceptable materials that cannot undergo the composting process and cannot be added to your green compost cart for collection:
If the item you are searching for is not included in this list, please email sustainability@yellowknife.ca with a description of the item for further instructions. Please note: Only BPI Institute certified compostable plastics will be accepted by the compost facility. Certified compostable materials will have the following logo (pictured below) directly on the plastic. If there is no logo, the item is not certified and belongs in the garbage stream (e.g. #7 PLA plastics).
|
Green Compost Cart Tips |
|
Only organics and certified compostable materials are accepted in the green compost carts. Separating your food scraps into your green cart can make a big difference. When food and yard waste is buried in the landfill, it doesn't break down or turn into compost/soil. Follow these tips for separating food scraps and using your green compost cart successfully:
|
How do I compost successfully in the Northwest Territories? |
| To find detailed information on different types of composting set-ups and how to build your own composter please read the guide for Composting North of 60.
The Let it Rot Poster is a handy poster on how to set-up and use a backyard composter. A poster with additional information on Composting is available here. |
