The food waste collection pilot program taking place has positive results in initial survey. (Ross Lavigne/CHAT News)

By Jesse Gill

CITY HALL

Medicine Hat’s food waste pilot project receives strong support, survey finds

Jun 11, 2024 | 5:42 PM

The results are in from Medicine Hat’s Food Waste Pilot Project survey and the city’s waste and recycling manager sees them as positive.

The level of support for implementing the program sits at 77 per cent, with only 15 per cent of respondents opposed and eight per cent saying they are neutral.

The food waste collection pilot project got underway for select residents in April.

Food waste is being collected in the current yard waste collection program for some of the higher participating areas of the city, who have received food waste buckets to dump into their green yard waste bin to help keep the waste out of the landfill.

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The biggest concerns are additional costs for the city to implement it, and the messiness.

Medicine Hat’s waste and recycling manager Shane Briggs said the reduction in waste to the landfill will provide cost savings.

He added that waste audits show high participation rates for the pilot project.

“Basically it is a mind change because I moved into a pilot area, and I work here, and it takes me a second to think, okay, yeah, we’ve got to be putting this in,” Briggs said.

“Another person we talked to at the Municipal Mingle said that he came from a community that had it, and it took about two or three months to get used to.”

READ: Medicine Hat’s Food waste pilot program first collection next week

An open house for the entire community will be held for the Food Waste Pilot Project at the Esplanade on Sept. 17.

Pilot participants will see another survey in September, and then a citywide survey again in December to get people’s final feedback.

READ: Food waste curbside pickup pilot approved by Medicine Hat city council

This feedback will help determine if the program goes city wide.

Stats from the Food waste pilot project survey. (City of Medicine Hat)

Participants feelings from the Food waste pilot project survey. (City of Medicine Hat)

Level of support from the Food waste pilot project survey. (City of Medicine Hat)

Food waste pilot project survey identified concerns and priorities. (City of Medicine Hat)