Bancroft residents can take advantage of a deal on a FoodCycler to reduce food waste going to the landfill.
The electric machine is an indoor compost alternative that speeds up the natural decomposition process.
It dries and grinds food waste into a dry, odorless nutrient-rich by-product that is significantly reduced in weight and volume from its unprocessed state.
The end product can be used as a nutrient-rich soil additive.
“You would not believe the amount of organics that are in your waste. Probably cut our garbage down by 30 to 40 per cent just by processing the organics out of the waste,” said Mayor Paul Jenkins.
“Organics actually are the most harmful and toughest thing on a waste site because of the leachate they give off. And that’s what also is a source of your methane gas,” he added.
The town only has five units left and they come at a subsidized cost of $150. The regular price sits at $500. The pilot project was first unveiled by council in 2022 to extend the life of the landfill.
“The electricity cost is nominal. What you end up with is sort of a powdery mix that we put in a barrel, we build it up and then we spread it on our lawns. It’s acts like a fertilizer,” said Jenkins.
He added people who use the machine notice a huge reduction in the amount of garbage going to the landfill.
Once the last five units are gone it will be up to council to decide if they want to continue on with the program. Anyone interested can register on the town’s website here.
