The City of Medicine Hat held an open house in the front lobby of the Esplanade Arts and Heritage Centre. Eli J. Ridder/CHAT News

By Eli J. Ridder

Medicine Hat’s food waste pilot adoption high ahead of proposal to expand, staff say

Sep 19, 2024 | 9:28 AM

Adoption of Medicine Hat’s organic waste pilot project remains high ahead of a fall budget proposal that would see it expand, staff say.

About a quarter of the city’s residents in April received food waste buckets to dump into their green yard waste bin to help keep the waste out of the landfill as part of the initiative.

In responses displayed at an open house for the Food Waste Collection Pilot Program this week, 64 per cent of participants surveyed by the city “are very likely” to participate in a Medicine Hat-wide program.

The Phase 1 survey results also found the level of support for an expansion was 59 per cent.

The city’s waste and recycling manager, Shane Briggs, said the survey results will help to make the case for a broader initiative to council.

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“It’s going really well,” Briggs said.

“We’re noticing a lot of participation in the pilot areas. We’re seeing a decrease in food waste generation.”

Survey results reported in June were also positive, with 77 per cent in favour of implementation.

READ: Medicine Hat’s food waste pilot project receives strong support

The food waste collection pilot program involves nearly 4,000 participating residents located in 15 waste collection routes throughout Medicine Hat, according to the city.

Briggs said he expects to present and make the case for implementing the food waste collection initiative across Medicine Hat this fall amid 2025-26 budget deliberations.

There are three upcoming rounds of council committee of the whole budget deliberations across October and November.

The first one is scheduled for Oct. 22.