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Haines Junction pilot project uses old freezers for composting

The community of Haines Junction, Yukon is trying a new, quicker method of composting. It is the first Yukon community to use old freezers, which are available at most landfills.

Community's pilot project reduces the time required to make compost

CBC News ·
Dave Hatherley, Foreman for Village of Haines Junction says "the slats are strips of cedar which were cut from scraps from the landfill." They are used for drainage and ventilation." ( Dave Hatherley, Village of Haines Junction)

The community of Haines Junction, Yukon is trying a new, quicker method of composting.

It is the first Yukon community to use old freezers, which are available at most landfills.

The freezers are retrofitted with air vents and drainage made from PVC pipe, and then filled with different combinations of food scraps and shredded paper. 

Still tinkering to be done 

Keir Gervais is Haines Junction's chief administrative officer.

He said the pilot project didn't produce what he calls "black gold" — top quality compost. However, it did significantly reduce the amount of time it normally takes to compost the same material using traditional methods.  

Local gardeners will have access to compost, though the formula still needs tinkering to work more effectively. (Dave Hatherley, Village of Haines Junction)
"Using the recipe that we created of different mixes, amount of water, amount of heat, etc., we reduced the amount of time from 12 months down to three weeks with some significant success," he explained. 

Gervais said the project was initiated because the village's current method of dealing with compost is ineffective.  Currently, residents drop their compost off at the landfill, where birds have the first pick of materials. 

The village hasn't decided if freezer composting will be taken-up at the village level, or if it will be left to individuals, according to Gervais. However, Haines Junction is aiming to divert 80 per cent of its waste from the landfill in the future. 

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