South Glengarry organics recycling pilot goes ahead

In this December 2020, file photo, a FoodCycler unit is shown in the township municipal office in Lancaster, Ont. The township will be running a 100 unit pilot project. (South Glengarry via Newswatch Group)

LANCASTER – South Glengarry council has given approval for the municipality to run an $11,300 pilot project for home-based organics recycling.

Council approved a pilot Monday (June 7) where 100 FoodCycler units will be available for residents to buy. The contraption, which is about the size of a bread maker, turns food waste into odourless soil.

The units cost $500 plus tax and shipping but will be sold to ratepayers for $120 plus tax. Replacement filter packs for the unit are $25.

“I am excited to see this program (go ahead). I received a number of positive messages from residents saying, ‘sign me up, where do I get mine?’ I think this is a small amount of money to potentially be on to something really good,” Deputy Mayor Lyle Warden said.

Coun. Stephanie Jaworski, who heads the environment committee, also supported it noting that “well over half” of the non-recyclable waste going into the local landfill is organics. “This pilot is a great way to measure, how would our residents look at this option, to help us reduce that (amount of garbage going to the landfill).”

The units will be sold on a first-come, first-served and if there are more than 100 people interested, the township will likely run a lottery.