WESTLOCK — The Westlock Regional Waste Management Commission is one step closer to adding a compost facility at the Regional Landfill.
Board members are in negotiations on a memorandum of understanding with the local farmers who put the proposal forward.
“We are not rushing into this and want to make sure that we have all our bases covered before we approve the compost facility,” said commission chairman and Town of Westlock councillor Curtis Snell.
“We are very confident our manager Tom Moore will ensure that our interests are protected and at the same time provide an opportunity for this private venture on our site. We are very excited about this opportunity and I am very proud of the staff out at the landfill.”
The board discussed the MOU at their April 15 meeting, and previously heard from the proponents in March when they agreed to the project in principle.
“The compost company is very receptive to our concerns and expectations and are working hard to exceed those expectations. The main person is local and does not want to create something that does ot work or that is a burden to the region,” said manager Tom Moore.
Colby Hansen, one of the farmers involved in the project, said at the time that they intend to be pioneers in regenerative agriculture and the product of the compost facility will be used on his soil.
Snell said the proposal aligns with the commission’s strategic plan and ultimate goals of being innovative leaders in waste management.
“In the commission’s long-term plan, we wanted to encourage partnerships for diversion of waste and increase employment opportunities within the region. We are confident that this compost business will be good for the community.”
Hansen’s venture would mostly make use of organics from Westlock County and Strathcona County, but Snell said the compost facility could mean the Town of Westlock can start disposing of organics locally.
“At present, our organics in the Town go on GFL trucks and are trucked to a site near Edmonton. This leaves a larger carbon footprint than I think is necessary. If we can deal with our compost at a local site that is just a couple miles out of town, that will reduce the carbon footprint significantly,” Snell said.
“If I put my town councillor hat on for a minute, my hope is that the cost for organic pickup will be less for town residents going forward as well and even if it is the same we have still done something food for the environment.”
The aerated static pile compost facility, which the proponents say has a small footprint and emits little odor, would produce 20,000 tons per year of compost.
They’re proposing to lease land from the commission at $100 per acre, and the load scale at $5 per truck. Hansen said a meter would be installed as well to split the costs of electric power. To manage leachate, they want to install a pond separate from the one at the landfill.
Trees would go up around their facility to help manage odor and design, and they still have to work out dust control plans for additional trucking down the landfill road.
The proposal would also open up two or three jobs in the community, and they’re looking to hire local contractors for the construction process.
Work for the appropriate permits is still underway with Westlock County.
Hansen also plans to run large-scale farm trials on the benefit of compost as fertilizer with research groups like Gateway Research and the University of Alberta.
