(File photo/northeastNOW Staff)

By Cam Lee

Council update

Food waste management company addresses Melfort council

Jul 15, 2025 | 10:56 AM

City council in Melfort heard from a company looking to reduce food waste in municipalities across the country.

A virtual delegation from FoodCycle Science addressed council on food waste management in Melfort.

Spokesperson Maddy From told council members the challenges and problems that food waste can cause for municipalities in landfills. They include the landfills themselves filling up quickly, methane gas produced by the waste that can increase a community’s carbon footprint, and organic waste in landfills and elsewhere attracting animals.

From said having ‘green bins’ – a food waste bin for municipalities – isn’t always the best option as the buy-in from citizens usually hovers around 40 to 60 per cent. Residents are also not always able or willing to use backyard composting.

FoodCycle Science believes they have a better option in the FoodCycler, a small appliance that accepts virtually all food waste. From said the appliance, which can fit on a kitchen countertop, reduces food waste by 90 per cent. The food waste is turned into a dry, sterile powder that has no smell and can be used as fertilizer for gardens or added to a composter.

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From told council that the FoodCycler costs about half of what a green bin program costs, and has a much higher participation rate at 90 per cent. When asked by councillor Adrian Bourgeois whether there were any concerns from user groups in the more than 175 municipalities using the food waste program, From said there was very little negative feedback. She said it can break down like any other appliance, but they have a five-year warranty, and the machine has fixable parts. The FoodCycler is also fully recyclable.

After the presentation concluded, all of council was interested in hearing more about the product and what the program could do for Melfort should it be implemented. Council will leave the presentation with management and reach out to the company for a more one-on-one discussion in the future to see if FoodCyclers are feasible for Melfort and its residents.

In other council news, Director of Community Services Rob Lok said in his monthly report that a water line was being installed to the Goodman Labyrinth at Spruce Haven Park, with small boulders also being installed at the skate park where gravel has not stayed in place. Feedback from user groups of the Spruce Haven ball diamonds has been largely positive as well after work was done to improve the diamonds following concerns about their deteriorating condition.

Director of Public Works Kalyna Cipywnyk also told council in her report that the target construction date for the new cell at the landfill is the end of August. Meanwhile, tendering for the decommissioning of the old cell will go out soon, with decommissioning work taking place this fall once the new cell is in place.

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cam.lee@pattisonmedia.com