By Joe Hoover - https://www.flickr.com/photos/86803208@N00/4790948885/, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=182362668
EDMONTON — Alberta is easing regulations for small municipal compost facilities, saying the changes will reduce red tape and make it easier for communities to divert yard waste from landfills.
The province announced municipal compost facilities accepting 500 tonnes or less of yard waste annually will no longer be required to comply with the Code of Practice for Compost Facilities or employ a certified operator.
The government says the changes recognize the lower risk posed by smaller operations, which until now were subject to the same regulatory requirements as much larger composting facilities.
Environment and Protected Areas Minister Grant Hunter said the changes are intended to reduce unnecessary administrative requirements while helping municipalities manage organic waste more efficiently.
The province says the exemption will reduce costs for municipalities, encourage more yard waste to be composted instead of sent to landfills and help lower methane emissions produced by decomposing organic material.
Yard waste includes grass clippings, leaves, branches, trees and other organic garden material. The province estimates it accounts for about 9.8 per cent of Alberta’s municipal waste stream.
Officials say about 14 municipally owned compost facilities across Alberta process 500 tonnes or less of yard waste each year and are expected to benefit from the changes.
The government also says Alberta had been the only province requiring certified operators for facilities of this size.
Organic waste sent to landfills can produce methane, generate leachate, attract pests and increase the risk of fires. Composting converts the material into a soil amendment that can be reused in parks, gardens and landscaping projects.
The regulatory changes take effect immediately.
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