Though it needs a final stamp of approval next week, our elected officials are behind the idea of a FoodCycler pilot program for Norfolk County.
We sat down with Andrew Grice, General Manager of the Environmental and Infrastructure Services Group for Norfolk, who explains it’s all a part of an extensive look into the local waste program.
At this time Norfolk County does not have a curbside organics program, which is why council voted in favour of the pilot after being approached by FoodCycler. FoodCycler is a Canadian company that offers countertop-composting units that residents can purchase to divert organic waste from landfills.
But Grice breaks it down to more simpler terms.
Unlike your typical composters notes Grice, the FoodCycler is fast acting.
Each cycle takes less than 8 hours to complete and can decompose any type of food waste including fruit and vegetable scraps, meat, fish, dairy, small bones, shells, pits, coffee grinds and filters, and paper towels.
The biproduct is than 85% less in weight and volume than the organic material that was processed. That means that even if the biproduct ends up in the garbage stream, it is significantly less than what would have been thrown away before it went through the FoodCycler process.
In terms of how the county will deploy the pilot, Grice says residents will have to be the ones to jump on board.
With approximately 40% of curbside garbage currently comprised of organic material, Grice hopes this pilot will set Norfolk up for success.
The current waste contract in Norfolk County is set to expire in September 2026.
Written by Kennedy Freeman
