Abbey Gardens - Waste Management

Abbey Gardens - Waste Management

Erica Rumbolt

Abbey Garden

Janine Papadopoulos
Eric Sager

2012

TP-646

Abbey Gardens
Haliburton

Waste Management
Compost
Environmental Science/Studies

A study of the current waste management practices of Haliburton County, Ontario and the potential diversion of organic waste materials to Abbey Gardens for compost

The purpose of this community-based research project for Abbey Gardens was to analyze and use existing information about Haliburton’s County waste production and their current methods of waste disposal to create a new waste management plan that focuses on organic waste diversion possibilities. The organic waste being studied falls into four categories: yard and landscape debris, food waste, paper fibres, and wood waste. Based on the understanding of Haliburton’s current waste management practices a set of recommendations for future composting systems has been developed.

The waste management plan objectives and concerns were first identified through consultation with Abbey Gardens. The research shows that the top two most utilized landfills in each municipality are close to reaching maximum capacity in the upcoming years, therefore the need for Abbey Gardens is apparent. Based on the types of organic materials most readily available in Haliburton County three different composting systems are suggested. The systems suggested for Abbey Gardens are windrow composting, aerated static piles, and/or the Rocket.

The significance of these results also identifies information gaps and a set of future recommendations of research and projects will be presented to allow for the support and development of Abbey Gardens in the upcoming years. This paper should be utilized as a starting point to develop a sound composting system in the rural Haliburton County.