Our Role as Good Citizens
by Benoît Bleau on behalf of the Hemmingford Environment Committee (translation : Susan Fisch) (December 2021)
What did you think of the summer we’ve had? Heat waves, water shortage, and finally torrential rainfalls! The weather is really out of kilter, and this is no longer just a nice speech. We are all experiencing it in one form or another. Contrary to climate-skeptics, climate change is very real. We can see our politicians circumventing the problem, and personally, I find that shocking. Isn’t it their job to take decisions for the benefit of their citizens?
Facing such an important problem, we have two choices: throw up our arms and stay silent, or do our part, even if it’s just a small part. It could seem unrealistic to try and take action in view of the amplitude of the situation, while hearing the specialists tell us it’s too late. But as they say, as long as there is life, there is hope! So if you are inclined to act rather than close your eyes or focus on your screen, then you are surely asking yourself, as I am, what we can do at our level to make a difference. A rule remains true: “Think globally, act locally”. If we search globally for one of the main causes of climate change, we will realize that it is human activity with greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). There’s good news! If we are part of the problem, then necessarily we are part of the solution. Thus, by changing certain habits, we can make a difference.
In the April 2018 edition of Info-Hemmingford, Jeff Turner proposed a solution for the greatest source of greenhouse gases: Transportation. Another source i our landfill sites. Organic matter (such as leaves, table scraps, grass clippings, garden refuse and sludge, etc.) when buried with non-organic materials, find themselves in an an-aerobic environment, thus creating methane (CH4), during their decomposition, a greenhouse gas which is 21 times more powerful than CO2.
In 2013, the Quebec government took the decision to ban all organic matter from landfill sites by the year 2020 (PACC2020.pdf). Since this deadline date has been exceeded, the government has postponed the target date to December 31st, 2022. Most municipalities in Quebec have made the move to adopt such measures in their municipal services. In most cases, this involves a third waste-bin, the brown bin, which collects all organic matter. You have probably noticed the brown bins in Montreal and in other municipalities. Organic matter is collected and then brought to a special center where it is composted, or, bio-methanized. This procedure is a biological treatment of organic waste matter that uses fermentation in the absence of oxygen. This operation creates a biogas that contains methane and that can be used as a source of energy.
There are only 12 months left to implement a solution into our community. For the moment, our elected officials in the Village are reflecting on a formula that can best be adapted to the situation. As for the Township, the elected officials want to opt for composting at home. This may be the best solution for five reasons.
- It would greatly reduce the quantity of waste that we send to the landfill site. As a general rule, compostable materials account for 50% of our actual waste. If we consider that another 45% can be recycled, the quantity of garbage left to send to the landfill would be less than 10% of our actual waste!
- The greenhouse gases created by the transportation of organic matter to specialized composting centers, would no longer be an issue, as every resident would compost their own organic waste. It would no longer be necessary to bury the organic waste materials or to bring them to a specialized composting center.
- As citizens would be in charge of their own composting, the chance of toxic substances finding their way into the organic matter, would be greatly reduced. This is a problem encountered in some of the special composting centers. Compost issued from such centers at times contains all kinds of substances that one would really not want to put in one’s garden.
- Everyone would benefit from the resulting fertilizer for their flower and vegetable gardens.
- Since garbage collection would pass from four times a month to two, and perhaps less, we could rightfully expect a reduction of the costs related to the treatment of residual matter. But for such a strategy to succeed, the participation of residents is necessary, as well as support from the municipalities in the form of training and access to proper equipment.
Are we ready to take on this challenge? Many of us are already doing so. It is up to each of us to let our elected officials know what we want for the future of our corner of the planet, and for the future of our children and grandchildren. Share your thoughts with us at envir.hemmingford@gmail.com