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The Municipality of Kincardine is looking to take part in a pilot project that could help divert food waste from landfill.
The FoodCycler Pilot Project, which is part of a partnership between the municipality, the Municipal Innovation Council, and the Nuclear Innovation Council, would provide 60 Food-Cycler machines to be distributed to residents.
Director of Environmental Services, Mark O’Leary, says that the first 60 units would be paid for.
The FoodCycler is a small kitchen appliance, roughly the size of a breadmaker, that takes approved food waste and turns it into compost in 4-8 hours, depending on the cycle chosen.
The machine has a cycle of drying the food scraps, then grinding them up; after a cool-down, the appliance is ready to open and start the next cycle.
He adds that even with the first 60 paid for, the pilot project recommends 1-2% of the population participate in the program.
That means the municipality would have to purchase an additional 120 units, which would have a total cost of $13,000.
Typically, devices such as the FoodCycler (including Pela’s competitor, the Lomi) cost about $500 each.
O’Leary says that the additional Food Cycler units could easily be funded by the Kincardine landfill reserve fund.
Municipalities such as Parry Sound, Carleton, Manitou, Selwyn, South Dundas, and Trent Lakes.