An industrial ecology approach to on-site waste management planning at The Forks Market

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Date
1998-04-01T00:00:00Z
Authors
Wallace, Andrew D.
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Abstract
What can be done with 500 tonnes of organic waste generated annually at The Forks Market? Waste management is an integral part of any development. Organic waste is a product at The Forks that is currently discarded. This material can and should be reused on-site. New technologies and methods must be incorporated into future planning and development at The Forks and the principles of industrial ecology fully incorporated. This study has two objectives. The first is to identify alternative composting technologies that could be used for organic waste management at The Forks as an integral part of a Market garden project, as put forward in The Forks North Portage Partnership's Business Plan (October 1996). The second is to present an organic waste management plan and implementation strategy suitable for incorporation into current waste management systems at The Forks. Results of this study identify that seventy percent of the waste stream is compostable. In 1995/96, disposal of this materials in city owned landfill sites cost the Partnership in excess of $50,000 in collection and disposal fees. Study results also indicate that an in-vessel composting system best fit needs at The Forks. Finally, the results suggest that comprehensive source separation programs are key to the success of on-site composting. It is recommended that the Partnership take the following actions: (i) adopt a source separation program and appoint a coordinator to monitor and maintain it; (ii) introduce an in-vessel composting system and purchase the fully enclosed flow-through equipment required; (iii) incorporate the concepts of industrial ecology and ecological design into the Planning and Development Guidelines; (iv) set aside sufficient funds for capital costs and further research to build upon the available base of knowledge and track operational costs; (v) capitalize on current economic, environmental and educational incentives.
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