Organics Program Review

Following the completion of the Solid Waste Management Strategy, the Municipality has started to look into the recommendations outlined in the strategy. One such recommendation is to explore an organics program for the Municipality. 

 An Organics Program Review will include:

• Detailed assessment of waste stream composition
• Building off 2023 waste audit, conducting additional audits
• Analysis of options
• Potential to issue a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEOI) to gain information of locally available services
• Assess impact of options to waste stream
• Detailed cost analysis
• Develop short list of feasible options
• Public consultation on short-listed options
• Develop business case for recommended option

While this review will mainly be done internally, a third-party consultant would need to be retained to gain additional waste composition data to allow for more accurate disposal/diversion calculations. 

Feedback shows that there is a clear demand for an organics program. An organics program is also a provincial requirement for municipalities that reach a population of 20,000, which Mississippi Mills is expected to reach within the next few years.

Residents see the adoption of green bin programs across the province and see the benefits of it – in many cases, residents have experience in using green bin programs in areas outside of Mississippi Mills. The main end-user benefits of green bin programs include:

• Reduced volume and weight of garbage
• Less odor from garbage
• Often can access the composted material after processing for free
• Community pride in reducing waste from entering landfill

Overall, as a municipality, the implementation of a green bin program would reduce the weight of garbage that is sent to landfill (and therefore lower disposal costs for garbage) and open possibilities for reducing the frequency of garbage collection.