The Food Waste Chain of Events
The food and kitchen waste you put in your green bin is sent to a licensed composting plant for processing into compost and eventually renewable fuels. Here is what happens after your green bin is collected:
Food waste collected in the northern part of the region is delivered to the Church Road Transfer Station (CRTS) near Parksville and transported to the ICC Group composting facility at Duke Point.
The CTRS has undergone extensive upgrades. A new transfer building enables food waste from commercial and residential sources to be consolidated for more efficient transport to the ICC Group composting facility.
The CTRS has been redeveloped in accordance with the RDN Green Building Policy. It meets LEEDTM (Leadership in Energy Efficiency and Design) Gold standards for energy and water efficiency and site sustainability.
RDN Southern Communities - Nanaimo, Electoral Areas A, B, & C
Food waste collected in the southern part of the region goes directly to ICC's composting facility at Duke Point.
ICC Group Composting Facility
The RDN has contracted the ICC Group to receive and process all food waste collected through the Green Bin Program. Before residential food waste collection started, ICC increased its receiving and processing capacity and improved odour control measures at its Duke Point facility.
At ICC, food waste is mixed with other organic material, including ground-up yard and garden waste. These materials are composted using an in-vessel process that generates sufficient heat to eliminate pathogens. The finished products include compost and fertilizers, all of which meet the BC Organic Matter Recycling Regulation.
ICC has received $4 million in funding through BC's Innovative Clean Energy Fund and the BC Bioenergy Network to develop and produce renewable fuels from food and yard waste. The two-year project using gasification technology is expected to begin production in 2011.
Bulk compost and fertilizer produced can be purchased at Alpine Soil Mart (2250 McGarrigle Road, Nanaimo, phone 250-755 1161) or First Choice Landscape Supply (925 Fairdowne Road, Errington).
