Backyard Composting as a Strategy for Municipal Solid Waste ...

Introduction• City committed to sustainabledevelopment• Committee formed late 1990s• Centralized vs. backyard composterdebate

City supported composting methodsMunicipal Compost FacilityBackyard Composting

Mandate/MissionIt is the mission of the Fredericton Backyard Compostersto promote the environmental sustainability ofbackyard composting, to city and area residents,through education and example.

Committee Structure• Committee Executive– Chair/Co-chair– Secretary– Treasurer• Committee Members• Consensus decision-making

Financial Support• Strong and continuing commitment from city council• Annual budget from council• City financial oversight

Major Activities• Composter Sales• Education Activities• Promotion to City and Area Residents

Education Initiatives• Goals• Promotion of Backyard and Vermicomposting• Committee activities include; workshops, brochures,displays, website, presentations

Volunteers run our programsSince 1997 have trained over 120 Master Composters

Educational Outreach Initiatives• Fredericton Lifestyles Show• Santa Clause Parade• Compost Demo Site at the Landfill• Website• Brochure• Facilitating Workshops• Radio Talk Shows• Presentations to Community members, local service groups and schools• Master Composter Course

Educating School Aged Children• Elementary School Poster Contest• Middle School Essay Contest• Middle School 5 Week Program• Individual Classroom Talks• Composters In Schools

Volunteers Equals Success• Sold 3,000 composters over 10yrs• Volunteers come back each year• Won an NB Environmental Leadership Award

Fredericton Backyard Composters(FBC) Master Composter Course• Offered alternate years• Developed by managers at Community ServicesDepartment• Updated regularly to reflect current trends inbackyard composting• Taught by FBC Master Composters• No Cost to Participants

Master Composter CourseDescription• Components Include:• 12 Hours Classroom• 8 Hours Field Trip• 20 Hours Volunteering in Program

Classroom• Four evening session• Lectures, guest speakers, group activities• Training manual provided at first class• Composter provided at final class

Table 2. Generalized Outline of MCC classroom sessions.Session 1Session 2Session 3Meet and Greet; - Program History; Training Manual ReviewStudy Session - Biology of Composting; Hot vs Cold Composting;Compost ManagementGroup Activity - Home Waste Audit Organic/Non-Organic Waste GameStudy Session - Composting Methods (backyard, industrial, farm etc.);Types ofComposters for Backyard Use; Uses of Finished CompostGroup Activity - Trouble Shooting Scenarios (responding to inquiries from thepublic by telephone, home visits etc.); Practicing School PresentationsStudy Session - Preparing Education Materials; Public Speaking SkillsGroup Activity - Creating kits for schools; Mock Presentations for VariedAudiencesSession 4Study Session - Solid waste management on a provincial scale (with guestspeakers from province of NB, local redemption centre and regional solid wastecommissionGroup Activity - assembling pre-fabricated compost units; planning forvolunteering; review of field trip details

Field Trip• All day excursion• Designed to augment themes of classroominstruction• Visits to regional landfill, City compost facility,industrial scale and farm composting facilities• Transportation by bus – lunch provided• Hosts have been made honorary MasterComposters in appreciation

Volunteer Hours• Allow new trainees to “learn the ropes” whileguided by FBC Master Composters• Must be completed within a year of thecourse field trip• May include time spent at monthly meetings,working behind the scenes or on the frontline of the program

Master Composter Certificate• Awarded by Mayor of Fredericton at City Hall Ceremony

The City of Fredericton and The FBC“Top Down” ApproachCity CouncilMayor’s OfficeParks and Trees StaffLiaisonFacilities / AdministrativeSupport

City Council2008 Budget Year$13,000 budget (Recover $ 5,000)Cost of “Earth Machines” $ 37.95Sold them - $30.00 / unit to the publicRecovered $ 4530.00 at a 1 day sale.Remaining money is for the committee to spend oncosts associated with programs it delivers.

Mayor’s OfficeMayor Woodside presents Master Compostercertificates at a Council Meeting.Affects the bottom line•Municipal facility – reduces our costs•Backyard composting – 3,000 units = over$100,000 annual savings in waste disposal

Parks and Trees – staff involvementRole is to facilitate the FBC and represent the City ofFredericton.Appointed staff member – Staff involvementLiaison ….Knowledge of composting at the Municipal level.

The free stuff•website support•use of city facilities for events, storage, meetings•buses for field trips•photocopies, paper other administrative support•computer support, graphics (updates to brochure)•translation services, advertising in the area newspapers.

Web stories - Composting

Mission StatementIt is the mission of the Fredericton Backyard Composters to:promote the environmental sustainability of backyardcomposting, to City and area residents, through education andexample.

‘Earth Machine’