Kenora, Ont., introduces backyard composting program as next step in waste diversion plan

The City of Kenora is introducing a backyard composting program in an effort to divert food waste from going to the landfill.

Local food production and waste reduction is one of four main themes of the northwestern Ontario community's sustainability action plan.

The backyard compost initiative comes on the heels of a pilot project first launched in 2021, where residents were given the chance to purchase subsidized FoodCycler units that essentially turn food scraps into fertilizer.

"We anticipate that this project will be similar to our FoodCycler project, and there will be a huge demand and we have a waiting list," said Heather Pihulak, the city's director of corporate services and clerk.

"There's a lot of positives to [the FoodCycler units], and the people that did purchase them are still using them."

The backyard compost bins are $10 plus HST and are limited to one per household, as there are only 100 units available. They can be purchased as of Wednesday at 10 a.m.

"The FoodCycler program was successful but we felt that some residents might prefer the backyard option because it's maybe more cost-effective," said Ashley Nordlund, chair of the city's sustainability advisory committee.

"Piloting the backyard composters is just about providing members with options, and they can choose which composting option suits their lifestyle the best."

Curbside compost, often known as green bin programs, are few and far between in northern Ontario.

While the City of Thunder Bay was hoping to introduce a green bin program by 2025, supply chain issues and a lack of local processing solutions for organic waste have delayed its implementation until fall 2026.

With a population of less than 15,000 people, Kenora isn't subject to the province's organic waste collection targets for northern Ontario, which focus on municipalities with 50,000 people or more. However, waste diversion remains a key priority for the city.

"Landfills don't last forever; they eventually fill up, so our goal is to reduce some of the material going to the landfill that can maybe be beneficially reused in terms of compost and getting nutrients and returning nutrients to the soil," Nordlund said.

"We also want to try to encourage residents to take up gardening, and if they create their own compost, they can use that compost to grow their own food."

While the bins aren't bear-proof, rotating the compost often and adding green and brown leaves will help reduce odours that may attract animals, she said.