Compost-poned: Council delays decision on food waste to July

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on June 17, 2025.

newsdesk@medicinehatnews.com

A decision on whether the city should go alone on building a food waste composting facility was delayed Monday after a city councillor said the issue will soon be discussed by regional partners, and should be deferred.

Coun. Shila Sharps told council that next week’s Inter-municipal committee agenda includes discussion on it, while local council deferred their discussion until July.

The $9.5-million project was held off the 2025-25 budget, with councillors saying they were willing to explore the potential of a regional facility with Cypress County and Redcliff.

Saying there had been no progress after six months of inquiries, administrators returned the decision item to committee meetings last week, stating a decision was needed or costs would begin to rise.

The building would be required to expand and make permanent a pilot project from last year to include food scraps in yard waste bins. Staff says that even with the cost of the building a facility, it would be $8 million cheaper than expanding the landfill.

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