Comparative study of the recovery of organic waste

The municipality of La Pêche will carry out a feasibility study to compare two approaches for the recovery of organic waste: domestic composting or a dedicated door-to-door collection service. The study will then lead to the development of an implementation and processing plan based on the most advantageous approach. The municipality of La Pêche is located in the Outaouais administrative region and includes nine village clusters. The municipality is spread out over a territory of 597.74 km², which makes it the largest municipality of the RCM of Les Collines-de-l’Outaouais and one of the largest municipalities in Quebec. The initiative is targeting the entire territory, with a population of 8,072 residents. The municipality wishes to divert more than 60% of the volume of solid waste that it currently sends to landfill sites, which in turn would reduce GHG emissions. Both of the approaches being studied have environmental, economic and social benefits for the community, including the reduction of GHGs, decreased collection costs, the stimulation of the local economy and public awareness. Methodology The study will unfold in two parts: 1. Comparison – Both approaches will be assessed based on their environmental performance, implementation costs, useful life and technical feasibility. 2. Implementation – Once the most advantageous approach has been identified, the study will focus on planning the service and developing the program monitoring plan. Innovative aspects The approach is considered a progressive one in the context of a rural municipality in Quebec. Replicability There is a very good potential for sharing the insights and results of this study on a local or even regional scale. And since the Québec Policy on Residual Materials is planning to eliminate organic waste from disposal sites, several Quebec municipalities will be undertaking similar projects over the next few years. (Project description from original funding application)