Residential Food Waste Collection Pilot Project

Year 1 of the residential food waste collection pilot program concluded last month. Thank you to all who participated in the pilot program. We look forward to your active participation as we enter year 2 of the pilot program.

We also want to thank all those who completed the fall 2021 survey. A few key findings include:

• 84% of respondents found the Organize Your Fridge brochure helpful, while 59% of respondents found the Weekly Meal Plan magnet helpful
• When asked if there was any additional information that could have been included in the User Guide, respondents indicated more clarity around composting food/take-out containers (9 suggestions), followed by information on eliminating nuisances like fruit flies and odors (5 suggestions)
• The majority of respondents (58%) have made changes to reduce food waste over the past year

The City will be delivering another sample of compostable liner bags to households in fall 2021 for year two of the pilot project. The sample liner bags that households received at the start of the pilot project were expected to last approximately one year, based on an average use of two bags per week. We understand that households have diverse requirements and will use liner bags at different rates. If you run out of liner bags, they can be purchased at most major grocery stores, home and garden centres, and online retailers. Liner bags must be certified BPI compostable. Alternatively, you can line your kitchen pail with a paper bag, newspaper, or simply use it without a liner.

Thank you to all who participated in Phase 2 public engagement during winter 2020. Phase 2 public engagement included a pilot resident survey and online webinars. The Phase 2 Public Engagement Summary is now available and provides an overview of the feedback collected for the project. Please visit the Document Library to view the Phase 2 Public Engagement Summary.

The final phase of public engagement will enable participants to provide feedback at the end of the pilot project on experiences, new issues, and changes in attitudes toward the pilot. Phase 3 is anticipated to begin in summer 2022.

Thank you to all who participated in Phase 1 public engagement during summer 2020. Phase 1 public engagement included a city-wide scientific survey and a pilot participant survey. The Phase 1 Public Engagement Summary is now available and provides an overview of the feedback collected for the project. Please visit the Document Library to view the Phase 1 Public Engagement Summary.

Thank you to all who attended a Residential Food Waste Collection Pilot Project webinar on November 24 and 25, 2020. If you were unable to attend, we encourage you to view the presentation slides in the Document Library.

Curbside collection of residential food waste began on October 5, 2020 and has been occurring for approximately one month.

We are now inviting participants to join us in one of four webinars and share their feedback on their initial experiences and the materials included in the welcome package:

• Tuesday, November 24, 2020: 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, November 24, 2020: 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.
• Wednesday, November 25, 2020: 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, November 25, 2020: 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.

The webinars are tailored to pilot participants but are open to any interested Winnipeggers. To register for a webinar, please select your preferred date and time above or call 204-453-2353 ext 4055. Instructions will be sent following registration.

*In-person events were originally planned. Winnipeg has been elevated to Critical (red) in the Province of Manitoba's Pandemic Response System. In response, the City cancelled in-person public engagement events.

In the coming weeks, the City of Winnipeg’s residential food waste collection pilot project will begin for approximately 4,000 households across Winnipeg.

Welcome packages are being delivered this week to those homes that have been selected for the residential food waste collection pilot project. The welcome package includes:

• a 120-litre green cart
• a seven-litre kitchen pail to collect day-to-day food waste in your home
• a sample of compostable kitchen pail liner bags
• participation instructions, including a list of accepted materials

Only those homes that received the welcome package can participate in the pilot project. Participation in the pilot project is completely voluntary.

The City will conduct a few waste audits over the course of the pilot project to see how pilot households are using the program and identify potential issues. The City will also be seeking feedback from pilot households through engagement activities.

Notification letters have been sent out, by mail, to homes that have been selected to participate in the Residential Food Waste Collection Pilot Project.

Approximately 4,000 homes from the following five neighbourhoods have been selected to participate:

• Daniel McIntyre
• Inkster Gardens
• Linden Woods/Linden Ridge
• Mission Gardens
• St. George

Only those homes that received the letters can participate in the pilot project. Participation in the pilot project is completely voluntary.

In September, a welcome package will be delivered to those homes that received the letters. The package includes:

• a 120-litre green cart
• a seven-litre kitchen pail to collect day-to-day food waste in your home
• a sample of compostable kitchen pail liner bags
• participation instructions, including a list of accepted materials

Food waste collection will begin the week of October 5, 2020 and continue through September 2022. Green carts should be placed out weekly, on the same day as recycling and garbage.

We will conduct a few waste audits over the course of the pilot project to see how pilot households are using the program and identify potential issues. We will also be seeking feedback from pilot households through engagement activities.

City Council is currently reviewing an update on the development and implementation of the pilot project.

Approximately 4,000 homes from the following five neighbourhoods will be selected to participate:

• Daniel McIntyre
• Inkster Gardens
• Linden Woods/Linden Ridge
• Mission Gardens
• St. George

These neighbourhoods were selected because they reflect the diversity of Winnipeggers and types of homes, and how their waste is collected. Only certain households within these areas will have the opportunity to participate in the pilot. In August 2020, selected households will be notified by letter that they have been selected. Details on how the pilot project will be rolled out and more information on residential food waste collection will be available later this summer.

Public engagement opportunities are planned to start in fall 2020. The public engagement during the pilot project will be used to inform recommendations towards a citywide program. Opportunities include:

• Understanding support, satisfaction, and participation for a potential city-wide program.
• Studying the effectiveness of collection containers, small kitchen pails/liners, promotion and education material, and other supports.
• Identifying other barriers and challenges.

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