Canton Shifts Away from Food Scrap Composting: What It Means for Local Sustainability – North Country Now

Canton is about to close its food scrap composting facility at Bend in the River Park. This decision comes after issues with illegal dumping at the site. However, a grant from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation may help keep the composting program going in the village.

Currently, residents can drop off food waste, like coffee grounds and eggshells, at the Lincoln Street location. But Village Mayor Michael Dalton expressed that the site has faced problems, leading the village to consider a move. “We want to secure the location and do not want to be in the trash or garbage business,” he said.

The program is not managed by the village, and funding for it is running low. Dalton pointed out that the current funding, which comes from donations and budget allocations, will end in May. He also mentioned that only about 80 residents are using the program, making it costly at around $500 a month.

To improve the situation, North Country Compost hopes to secure the DEC grant. If approved, they plan to set up three new drop-off locations, including the Canton Free Library and two local churches. This shift is aimed at creating a network of accessible spots for residents to drop off their food scraps.

North Country Compost’s proposal includes discontinuing the Lincoln Street site within a year, with the new locations expected to be operational in about three months. Equipment and signage from the old site will be moved to the new ones.

To spread the word, North Country Compost will hand out flyers in downtown Canton and partner with Canton Central Schools to inform students about the changes. They also intend to give out 50 countertop food waste caddies to help residents easily transport their scraps to the new drop-off spots.

Participating in the composting program could save residents money. By reducing food waste, they might lower their trash pickup costs or the fees at the transfer station. Most Canton residents rely on private trash services or take their waste to the transfer station since the village does not provide its own trash collection.