Owen Sound won’t be changing the hours of operation at its compost site this year.
The city’s operations committee received a brief update at its April 20 meeting about the leaf and yard waste compost facility on 28th Avenue East.
Owen Sound’s Supervisor of Environmental Services Heidi Jennen says the hours of operation will be status quo for the 2023 season. The compost site is open seven days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
There was a recommendation brought to committee in March to reduce hours at the site, but Jennen says after receiving feedback from residents and committee members there won’t be any changes this season.
“This will all be looked at when we do the comprehensive business plan,” Jennen explains.
The city is currently working on an overview and business plan for the compost site. It’s expected to come to the operations committee for review later this year.
Cutting down on “illegal dumping” through improved by-law compliance and forming partnership agreements with neighbouring municipalities for resident access are some suggestions for the compost site from a consultant in the city’s updated waste management strategy.
Last month, council approved a recommendation to hire Fairmount Security Services to enforce city bylaws at the site.
After a winter closure, Owen Sound’s compost site re-opened for the season on April 10. Operations committee members were told during their last meeting people from outside the city who attempted to attend the site when there was an on-duty bylaw officer were turned away.
Jennen says vehicle counters at the site indicate about 300 cars daily in the first few days after it opened for the season earlier this month. The city also found there are residents from Georgian Bluffs, Meaford and Chatsworth travelling to use the site, and even some from as far away as Wiarton and Sauble Beach.
Coun. Marion Koepke asks: “Those coming … who are non-residents, would they be given an option to pay at some point if they wanted too?”
Jennen says the city is looking at that option as part of the business plan being prepared.
Operations committee members were also told the Township of Georgian Bluffs has approached the city to discuss partnership opportunities at the site.
“If a viable solution can be found, staff will bring forward a report for council’s consideration,” Jennen’s report to committee says.