Medicine Hat city council has approved a new solid waste diversion strategy that will include seeking out grant funding to develop a food waste composting program.--News Photo Collin Gallant
@@CollinGallant
A major stumbling block in budget discussions last fall could soon be put back on the agenda, though a city councillor proposing staffers seek an alternative says a regional plan still may be possible.
A food waste composting facility and city-wide program to collect and keep organic material from entering the land fill was the largest capital ask at $9.5 million proposed in the 2025-26 city business plan.
It was held off a final draft after Couns. Shila Sharps and Andy McGrogan convinced council to task the solid waste department to reconsider portions of a seven-year old regional waste strategy and seek out partnerships to build the facility.
That issue returned to a committee chaired by Sharps on Thursday, with staffers saying a multi-jurisdiction approach presents financial and operational hurdles, and that administrators at Redcliff and Cypress County aren’t receptive to the idea.
“We’re going to be at a point of critical decision soon,” said city manager Ann Mitchell, summing up a presentation from managers with the environmental utilities department. “We’ve had conversations and are trying to think regionally, but we’re at a point where council needs to make a decision.”
Further delaying the project could lead to increased inflation and uncertainty, she said.
Sharps said a committee meeting of councillors from all three jurisdictions is set for next week, where the topic may be broached.
“Do we want to bring it up when there is something coming up,” she asked.
Committee member, Coun. Alison Van Dyke, moved that the issue – a budget amendment allowing staff to start final planning and construction – be referred to council on June 16.
Last year she had told council she fully supported the compost project, which is meant to divert tonnes of compostable material from the city’s main landfill, but supported exploring alternatives.
Staffers said Thursday that beyond meeting city environmental goals of waste diversion, reducing greenhouse gases and sustainability, “it represents the most economic to conserve space in the landfill … and residents seem willing to participate,” said Jamie Garland, the department’s director.
Without action to reduce volumes delivered to the dump, it will reach full capacity in 14 years, he said, while delaying the compost expansion by a year could add $1.2 million to project costs.
In 2024, the city launched a large pilot project to have 4,000 Hat households include all kitchen waste, like coffee grounds, soiled paper and leftovers, even meat and dairy, in their yard waste bins.
The response was “overwhelmingly positive” from those who took part and filled out a survey, according to figures in the presentation that will be seen at council this month.
Organic food waste accounts for between 40 to 50 per cent of waste entering the landfill, and administrators believe more than 22,000 tonnes of material could be diverted annually.
At that volume, the city would need to re-certify its operation with regulators to earn carbon offset credits, likely with a purpose built facility.
It would earn $1.5 million in industrial carbon offset credits over 10 years, which would offset some operational costs, and help avoid $15 million in other landfill expansion costs.
The project would be paid for in near equal portions with $5 million in borrowing and $4.5 million in infrastructure reserve funds.
Over 10 years, repayment would add about $8 per year to the average utility bill.
When a new landfill is required, staff estimates solid waste charges will quadruple to commission a new dump, going from $17 per month at present to more than $80.
“While 2039 may seem distant … (waste management projects) require a long lead time,” said Garland. “To avoid potential rate shock the city must act now.”
Sharps had directed staffers to explore partnering with Redcliff and Cypress County, which jointly manage a landfill, in order to reduce capital costs, which solely affect utility rates, not taxes.
Staff said Thursday that a composting facility at the Cypress/Redcliff facility is designed to process organic waste from greenhouses, not co-mingled yard and food waste material.
The city landfill also handles biosolids from the water treatment plant, where it is Offers to update a 2018 inter-municipal waste management plan have been stalled.
“It’s beyond the scope of municipal plans,” said Garland.
Lethbridge added the service in 2023 and Medicine Hat remains the largest centre in the province without such service.
