Starting a new job is always intimidating. So last March when I started working for the City’s Communications Branch, I wasn’t quite ready to question my new colleagues about their lack of composting. However, having worked at the Telus World of Science throughout University I came accustomed to having a compost bin at work. I thought, if had a compost bin at the science centre, why couldn’t we have one here?
Over the next few months my courage grew. Then one day this summer I was eating a banana and I had enough. “Why don’t we have a compost?” blurted out of my mouth… I looked around… good thing no one heard me. Still unsure of everyone’s position on composting I decided to go the more passive route, and post a comment on an internal website. I asked if anyone was composting in the downtown area. Within a few minutes, I got several comments back saying no, but if you find one let me know because I’m also interested in composting. I thought to myself, if everyone wants one then why don’t we just make one?
Later that afternoon, with slight trepidation, I approached my manager and a few other colleagues asking what they thought about having a compost bin. I did get a few chuckles, but everyone was incredibly supportive. Later, in a meeting with my Branch Manager, I mentioned the possibilities of composting. To my surprise, she not only thought it was a great idea, she agreed to provide me with the resources to make this idea come to fruition. After consultation with the composting gurus in the Waste Management Branch, a few meetings with City Hall tenants, several phone calls and visits with City Hall expert – Betty Loree, and a lot of help from the City Hall custodians and Maintenance Department, we now have a 340L vermicompost at City Hall!
We're ready to compost!
Currently, we are in the initial pilot project phase. There are now five offices in City Hall participating with more on the way. With the help of Master Composter Recycler Volunteer, Herb Gale the compost bin is off to a great start. It will take several months for our bio-degradables to turn into fertilizer, but when it does it will be used on the plants in and around City Hall. In the mean time, the City Hall School program has been encouraged to use the compost as a teaching tool.
If you’re interesting in learning more about composting, and how you can make your own compost at home or work, please check out the Waste Management Branch’s Compost brochure. Or feel free to post comments, and I’ll let you know how it’s working out for us.
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Great initiative!
As a caution, dont throw in banana peels unless you have frozen them. Fruit flies lay their eggs on banana peels and unfrozen banana peels are often the cause of a fruit fly disaster!
I wonder who will be harvesting the compost in 4-6 months? What a great source of nutrients for the City Hall office plants!
Great news!
So, does this mean that if I want to see recycling for something other than Paper downtown, I just need to tell somebody? Because right now, I’m having a terrible time finding anywhere to recycle any of the plastic food containers we get from lunch meetings or that people bring in their food from home.
Good job Ashley! I have been doing vermiculture since 2001 when I stared a bin on my Lister Hall floor.
You don’t have to freeze anything before, the key is to just bury it. Peel back the soil a little, thow your bananna peel in and push the soil over it. All it takes is enough to barely cover it and it should be out of reach of the fruit flies.
Thanks for all the advice and support!
Anna- We are expecting to harvest the compost in about 6-8 months. Herb Gale, our Master Composter Volunteer, has reported that we already have a bit of compost! We are still sorting out the process, but the City of Edmonton’s Horticulture group will be involved.
Jordan- I’m not sure about recycling downtown. There are (were, prior to the snow) recycling containers in Churchill, if that’s close you might want to bring your recycling there. ALso, check out the Reuse Centre’s brochure. Maybe some of the stuff you’re looking at recycling can be taken there: http://www.edmonton.ca/for_residents/Reuse_Centre_Flyer.pdf
Andrew- Hi! Congrats on your bin!
Fantastic work Ashley!
Wonderful to see it all came together
Ashley and Jordan,
the City collects mixed recycling from City offices and facilities (the same materials you can recycle at home). Private companies can use the 22 recycling depots, or they can call the Waste Management Branch if they’re interested in collection services from the City: 496-5698.