Peel's organics recycling program now under way

The Region of Peel officially launched its new Organics Recycling Program Friday at the Peel Integrated Waste Management Facility in Brampton. Showing off the new curbside bin available to more than 285,000 households that receive curbside waste collection are (l to r) Denis Flangan, HGTV host and manager, membership services for Landscape Ontario; John Vidan, director, waste policy at the Ministry of the Environment; Binny, Region of Peel mascot, Susan Antler, executive director, Composting Council of Canada; and Emil Kolb, Peel chair.

The Region of Peel officially launched its new Organics Recycling Program last week at the Peel Integrated Waste Management Facility in Brampton. The program begins Monday, April 2 in Caledon, Brampton and Mississauga.

"The Region of Peel continues to prove itself as a leader by implementing initiatives aimed at preserving and protecting the environment," said chair Emil Kolb. "The Organics Recycling Program will help the Region reach its goal of diverting 70 per cent of waste from landfill by 2016."

The program enables Peel residents receiving curbside waste collection to divert household organic material, such as food waste and soiled paper products, from disposal. The organic material is collected and processed within the Region's borders and turned into a valuable resource - clean, rich compost.

"This is the largest simultaneous rollout of an Organics Recycling Program in Canada to date," said Andrew Pollock, director of waste management. "The Region delivered green bins to more than 285,000 Peel households over a six-week period during February and March."

Residents can begin collecting their household organic material now, and set their green bin at the curb during the week of April 2, on their regularly scheduled collection day.

The organic material that is collected from Peel's residents is processed into compost in the Region's own waste management facilities. The Region is able to process 72,000 tonnes of organic material per year at the Peel Integrated Waste Management Facility in Brampton and the Caledon Composting Facility.

"The Canadian composting industry continues to grow stronger as more communities and organizations, like the Region of Peel, realize that organic materials should be treated as resources rather than waste," said Susan Antler, executive director for the Composting Council of Canada. "The Region's compost meets our highest Compost Quality Alliance standards and is a great product for residents and landscape companies to use on their lawns and gardens."

The compost, which is available for use as mulch, a soil enhancer for gardens or top dressing for lawns, is sold to a variety of users such as gardening centres and landscape companies. Residents can also purchase compost at the Region's Community Recycling Centres.

For more information on these programs, call the Region of Peel at 905-791- 9499 or in long-distance areas of Caledon call 905- 584-2216, free of charge. Visit the Region of Peel Web site at peelregion.ca/waste.