One year in and compost

project reaction is mixed

TERRACE — It’s been over a
year since the composting pilot
project began, and so far the
response has been mixed,

It began April 1, 1992, as a
joint effort between the City of
Terrace and the Uplands Nursery
and is located at the Terrace land-
fill site.

The idea behind the project is to
use materials such as grass and
moss clippings, vegetables, peels
and garden debris rather than
simply having them going to
waste,

“We ought to utilize every bit
of waste product that we can,”’
says Uplands owner Bruce
Freeman. ‘‘There’s always a
shortage of compost.’”

Despite good intentions, there
are persistent problems. People
have refused to separate compost
mialerials from non-compost gar-
bage.

“A major problem that we’re
faced with is the thoughtlessness
of people,’” comments Freeman,

He says people often throw un-
suitable garbage such.as glass and
cans, into the pile and then cover
it up with compost materials.

Freeman figures this happened
because people didn’t want to go
ta the adjacent garbage pile about
300 feet away.

To remedy the situation, the
city put a dumpster beside the
compost pile. But the unsuitable
mixing has continued.

Kevin Freeman, Bruce’s son
and Cypress Landscaping owner,
oversees the project and finds the
situation frustrating,

‘People are pigs - I can’t be-
lieve it,’”’ he says.

He notes that all sorts of
houschold garbage has been
mixed in, including diapers.

To have a good final product,
Bruce Freeman says that a
screener machine is needed to fil-
ter the garbage out of the com-
post. But that would be too ex-
pensive because the pile is too
smal.

Bruce Freeman notes only a
small percentage of people are
mixing ihe wrong material with

the compost. Kevin Freeman adds
that itis a ‘‘high minority.”

SK

Skeena

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GOOD COMPOSTING requires good mixin

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ig and that req

Thiet.

echanical help ina

pilot project between Uplands Nursery and the City of Terraca at the landfill site. But unwanted
materials placed in the pile have made things difficult. Three-quarters of the compost goes to the
nursery for sale while the city will use the remaining 25 per cent for its own purposes.

Despite good intentions, there are persistent problems.
People have refused to separate compost materials from

non-compost garbage.

City environmental services
foreman Don Gare has a more op-
timistic view. While acknowledg-
ing the mixing problem, he also
feels the project remains success-
ful.

“There is a bit of a problem.
It’s hard to police. It’s like any-
thing - most people co-operate,’’
he says. ‘‘AS far as the city of
Terrace is concerned, it’s going
grea aad "

Bruce Freeman says the cost of
the machine time needed to turn
and mix the compost exceeds the
value of the final product.

He suggests this might change
if the finished compost was left

on site, But that isn’t possible un-.
. less.a fence ls built to, protect the _

“OPEN

Five Year
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Tree Farm Licence No. 1

Skeena Cellulose Inc. invites all interested parties to attend an §
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Licence 1. The licence encompasses parts of the Copper, Kalum, §
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The plan outlines the general goals and objectives, forest &
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i during the next 5 year period, The new Management Plan will be §

piles from thieves.

Compost piles are brought up to
the Uplands nursery and mixed
with topsoil for sale.

The city receives 25 per cent of
finished compost, with the zest
going to Uplands. Cypress
Landscaping turns and mixes the
compost piles,

According to Kevin Freeman,
there were about 16-18 dump
truck leads of finished compost
after the first year.

He says the nutrient level of the
final compost product isn’t as
high as expected and will try
mixing in sawdust and possibly

resul .

HOUSE

_, fertilizer to improve the. end ...

*‘Ti’s an experiment, and exper-
iments take years to develop,’’
Freeman says. “Is somewhat
disappointing, but it’s got pros-
pects.” ;

Gare is quick to point out the
positives. He says the main
benefit is the amount of landfill
Space saved,

The city also plans to use the
compost as sod conditioner or to
cover the landfill.

But Bruce Freeman says that if
there isn’t more co-operation, the
project will be a losing effort.

**Tt’s only with the co-operation
of the general public that it will
really work. IE the public won't
co-operate, 1 don’t think it’ll
work at all.”

The two-year project runs until
March 31, 1994, when the parties
wil] decide on what changes, if
any, need to be made.

Gare says the city will continue
the composting afler the pilot
prpieet ig finished.

OW Can Brew

The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, June 16, 1993 - Page Ad

News in brief
Highway improved

HIGHWAYS MINISTRY crews are scalcoating Hwy37 south of
Terrace to Onion Lake. The 27km long project began last week and,
given favourable weather conditions, should be done next week.

Sealcoating involves putting a mixture of oil and gravel on top of
an existing gravel or pavement surface. It extends the life of the
road by keeping water from penetrating the existing road and by
filling cracks.

The estimated $500,000 cost of this particular project is 15 to 20
per cent of the amount It would take to put a new lift of asphalt onto
the highway. And it delays the time when a new lift is needed.

Highways ministry officials are asking that motorists drive at a
maximum SOkph over the route until excess gravel is swept away.
That’ll reduce the chances of flying gravel damaging windshields.
Expect minor delays during the project.

TV equipment donated |

A NATIVE print journalism school in the Hazeltons is now turning
its attention to television.

The Gitksan and Wel’suwet’en School of Journalism this week is
getting $80,000 worth of television production equipment from
Northwest Community College. ,

The school through the Gitksan and Wet’suwet’en Education
Society is leasing the equipment for $1 a year until 1995,

“Our primary focus remains print journalism. But this equipment
allows us to expand into the broadcast side so students can get their
feet wet in that area of mass media as well,’’ said school coor-
dinator Doug Donaldson.

The journalism school began last September and offers a 16-
month course divided into four semesters.

Forest jobs for jobless on way

THE UNEMPLOYED will be able to find work in the province’s
forests under a new plan announced last week by Forests minister
Dan Miller.

Called the Forest Worker Development program, it will be
financed through the BC 21 program to the tune of $32.6 million. °

Sponsors will apply to the forest ministry and select their work-
force from people referred to them by Jocal social services and
employment offices,

The program will target entry level (no experience), bridging level _
(some forestry experience) and fully trained workers. Projects, to
include silviculture, recreation and road work, are intended to pro-
vide a full season’s work.

A further $17 million from BC 21 will go into the Small Business
Forest Enterprise program to provide silviculture and forest road
jobs through local contractors.

Miller indicated the northwest, because of the size of its forest
base, can expect to receive a significant chunk of the available
money. .

TFL renewals shortened

Tree farm licences will only be renewed for five year periods under
Forest Act amendments introduced by the provincial government.
Cutting the renewal period in half would mean more frequent up-
dating of the conditions of the licence, Forests minister Dan Miller
said. That in turn would make it easier for government to ensure
those conditions more closely reflected changing priorities.
The five-year replacement regulation effects licences coming up

for renewal after July 1, not those where replacement has already
been scheduled,

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