Discussions

Compost

Ladybug
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 239

Ladybug
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 239

Compost
5/26/2018 at 10:38 AM

I heard that you could pick up dirt made from compost from the city landfill for gardening...is this true?
I have called the landfill and no answer and searched the website...
Adam

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

Adam
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

Dirt
5/26/2018 at 11:40 AM

Yup. Just drive up to the dump and it’s in a big pile by the gate, labelled with the right signage (beside the wood chips pile). If you don’t have a truck, bring a shovel and some buckets.
Nice rich stuff but be prepared for unexpected weeds and the odd bit of plastic.
If you think of it, keep us posted on your thoughts and how you make out if you do decide to give it a try.
blueyedbabe
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 501

blueyedbabe
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 501

Lions Club
5/26/2018 at 11:46 AM

The Lion’s Club has fantastic compost. They get it from hog manure from the transport trailers to Maple Leaf. Bags are 50-55 lbs and cost $7.00 each. I think you can order directly from them or visit them when at the corner of Vic inn parking lot. I’ve used them the last two years and am very impressed with the quality!
Wiseguy850
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 580

Wiseguy850
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 580

-
5/26/2018 at 1:18 PM

Last fall, they moved the compost pile further inside, past the scale, and I was advised they were going to start charging a fee.
Not sure if that's all true but that is what staff there told me.

Adam

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

Adam

Joined: Mar 2005

Posts: 15663

Compost

5/26/2018 at 1:49 PM

Wiseguy850 said "Last fall, they moved the compost pile further inside, past the scale, and I was advised they were going to start charging a fee.
Not sure if that's all true but that is what staff there told me. "

Would be interested to know that answer. The last time I would’ve used is August. Price is right when free. Everyone wants something for nothing and wouldn’t expect the city to lose money on it but if cost is too much I’d likely opt for something with less weeds.

goshdarn
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 394

goshdarn
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 394

the city compost is
5/26/2018 at 4:44 PM

down to black dirt, fairly heavy and dense last time i saw it up there. have not used it yet but will be getting some for overlaying on rear yard lawn. hope it is still free.

I was just up at the lions spot at the Vic inn to pick some compost up. it has more lift or fluff to it, not as dense, not yet dirt if that makes sense.

I use every year to blend into with the soil for bedding plants and gardens. retains moisture after waterings nicely.

their ad in newspaper today said this weekend was the last for the season.

also got my lawn fertilizer there as well. good stuff been using it for years
Ladybug
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 239

Ladybug
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 239

Ok
5/27/2018 at 7:04 AM

We went to the dump and they do charge now. It's $22.50 for 1 tonne. But you can bring pails or whatever to fill. We did that. I filled 2 large containers and it was $6.89.
Not too shabby!
The dirt is nice a bit of weeds or sticks in it but overall it will work just fine.
steveo
Joined: This month
Posts: 384

steveo
Joined: This month
Posts: 384

Compost
5/27/2018 at 8:14 AM

i got some from the dump and there is a ton of weeds in it. what a mistake

Johnbisonbear
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 4183

Johnbisonbear

Joined: Mar 2010

Posts: 4183

yikes

5/27/2018 at 9:40 AM

Ladybug said "We went to the dump and they do charge now. It's $22.50 for 1 tonne. But you can bring pails or whatever to fill. We did that. I filled 2 large containers and it was $6.89.
Not too shabby!
The dirt is nice a bit of weeds or sticks in it but overall it will work just fine. "

not dirt cheap any more! Or free for that matter!

I wonder what else the city charges us for?

Adam

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

Adam
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

Charging
5/27/2018 at 9:53 AM

FWIW on a Google it looks quite typical for there to be a charge for landfill compost in Western Canada. I have no idea on costs to the city to get it to the point where it’s usable but wouldn’t begrudge them collecting some amount of money in exchange for value provided. Money doesn’t grow in trees and if it doesn’t come from user pay fees it comes from property tax. I think the issue might come from the fact that once something is free it’s hard to put the genie back in the bottle. But as a consumer I’d definitely weigh cost/benefit versus other ways to acquire/improve soil more now than I would’ve under prev pricing

My issue with weeds sprung up after I had it in the ground for a few weeks. A separate area I used it in was a large bed that’s been covered with fabric and mulch. Nothing that I’d attribute to the compost has come through the fabric and the plants sure are happy.
Johnbisonbear
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 4183

Johnbisonbear
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 4183

just to be clear
5/27/2018 at 10:15 AM

on the subject, is it black dirt made from the compost that we provide from our green bins?
Norah

Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 638

Norah
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 638

Yes
5/27/2018 at 2:54 PM

The compost from our green bins.
They had free Saturday for eco day.
Was to the dump. Wood chips and compost is being charged for by weight as previous person wrote.
Ladybug
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 239

Ladybug
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 239

A good deal
5/27/2018 at 6:06 PM

I think its a good deal. I'm happy with it and it cost less than going to Wal-Mart or home depot.
I will continue to get dirt from the landfill.
steveo
Joined: This month
Posts: 384

steveo
Joined: This month
Posts: 384

Compost
5/27/2018 at 6:17 PM

yes , pay for compost and we give all out recyclable's for free and they cash out. that's bull
Dange
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 252

Dange
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 252

Funny!
5/27/2018 at 7:57 PM

They want to promote reduce, re-use, recycle but obviously saw an opportunity to cash in and started to charge. City needs to realize that if you set a precedent and then change and charge it can leave a bad taste in the citizens mouth. Just another example.
Adam

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

Adam
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

Compost
9/6/2018 at 11:30 AM

Filled a big tote with a helping of this today. Only came out to $2.05. In terms of volume relative to price, still quite a bit less than the bags of dirt you can get at the store and its rich stuff that I'm sure the plants will love. Didn't notice anywhere near as much plastic pieces mixed in as I did last year.

The one downside is (right now at least?) there's a ton of glass you have to drive over to get to the compost pile from the main landfill road. Ideally not something I'd want to put my car through very often.
Abbysmum
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 5038

Abbysmum
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 5038

lol
9/6/2018 at 9:34 PM

steveo said "yes , pay for compost and we give all out recyclable's for free and they cash out. that's bull "

You think the city is getting rich on your recyclables? Recycling is often a money-losing venture for municipalities, especially when they have to sort it like they do here. Aluminum, glass and cardboard at least recovers it's costs and maybe makes a slight profit, plastics and the rest lose money. Plus, places like China don't buy foreign recyclables anymore, especially plastic, so there's a glut in the market driving down prices.

There's a reason why recycling is LAST on the Reduce-Reuse-Recycle triad. It should actually be our last option after reducing and reusing, because those are more effective both environmentally and economically.