Nova Scotia Opens New Compost Facility

ENVIRONMENT--Nova Scotia Opens New Compost Facility

• ---------------------------------------------------------------Nova Scotia opened its newest composting plant today, a facility that's among the largest of its kind in the world.

Owned and operated by New Era Farms, the facility has already attracted interest from abroad. Joining a tour of the plant this morning at Goodwood, near Exhibition Park, was a delegation from Russia.

"Nova Scotia has been able to demonstrate to the world how valuable a resource we have in the everyday things we used to throw away," said Charles MacDonald, MLA for Inverness, on behalf of Environment Minister Michel Samson. "This environmentally responsible operation is another element in our successful waste-resource management program."

Mr. MacDonald also took part in the tour, which included representatives from New Era Farms, Halifax Regional Municipality and the Composting Council of Canada.

"The official opening of the New Era Farms facility represents a significant milestone for Halifax Regional Municipality," said Coun. Jack Mitchell. "The facility is more proof that we're committed to ensuring that the new waste management strategy is a success.

"We now require the support of every resident to separate organic materials for composting, both in their homes and at their place of work. Together, we can reach our waste diversion goals, and we're becoming a role model for other municipalities across North America."

New Era Farms is owned by Stinnes Enerco Inc. and Hartland Developments Ltd. It's contracted to process up to 25,000 tonnes of organic waste each year. Much of the infrastructure associated with the facility was built in Nova Scotia. The plant was commissioned in December 1998 and employs seven people.

"Our facility represents the future of waste management practices," said Roger Burns, general manager with Hartland Developments. "It's completely enclosed and filtered so there are no foul odours outside nor the presence of birds and rodents that were commonly found in first-generation landfill sites. There is no leachate problem, and it meets and exceeds all environmental requirements."

"Composting plays a significant part in all aspects of a healthy environment," said Susan Antler, with the Composting Council of Canada. "Rather than throwing it away, organic material is composted in a facility such as this. When composted, it provides a natural resource that is beneficial to soil for the growth of stronger, healthier plants."

Nova Scotia is among the leaders in solid waste management. It's well on its way to meeting a national goal of 50 per cent waste diversion for the year 2000. Just this week, the province announced its diversion rate for 1998 stands at 35 per cent, with Halifax Regional Municipality already achieving a 43.5 per cent diversion rate. All told, the province is diverting 237,000 tonnes of material each year. This number was almost negligible just three years ago.