Editing Edmonton (section)

=== Waste disposal ===
[[File:MRF Composter03.jpg|thumb|The [[Edmonton Composting Facility]] was the largest co-[[compost]]ing facility in North America by volume and capacity.]]

Edmonton delivers [[source-separated organics]] waste collection to all single-unit, and some multi-unit homes.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|last=Edmonton|first=City of|date=March 16, 2021|title=Edmonton Cart Rollout|url=https://www.edmonton.ca/programs_services/garbage_waste/edmonton-cart-rollout.aspx|access-date=March 16, 2021|website=www.edmonton.ca}}</ref> The city collects four streams of waste under this program: Garbage in black bins, organic waste in green bins, recycling in blue bags, and yard waste in large brown paper bags or clear plastic bags (four times per year).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Waste cart rollout starts Monday as Edmonton begins transition to source-separated collection|url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/waste-cart-rollout-starts-monday-as-edmonton-begins-moves-to-source-separated-collection|access-date=March 16, 2021|website=edmontonjournal|language=en-CA}}</ref> The rollout of the source-separated organics program began in March 2021, and was completed on September 3, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Edmonton|first=City of|date=September 14, 2021|title=Cart rollout delivers to more than 250,000 Edmonton households in six months|url=https://transforming.edmonton.ca/cart-rollout-delivers-to-more-than-250000-edmonton-households-in-six-months/|access-date=September 14, 2021|website=Transforming Edmonton|language=en-US}}</ref> During this period, Edmonton delivered approximately 10,000 new carts every week to a total of approximately 250,000 homes.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Edmonton|first=City of|date=August 3, 2021|title=New sorting stations a colourful addition to Edmonton's waste diversion story|url=https://transforming.edmonton.ca/new-sorting-stations-a-colourful-addition-to-edmontons-waste-diversion-story/|access-date=August 3, 2021|website=Transforming Edmonton|language=en-US}}</ref> City employees collect waste from half of these homes, and collection from the other homes is contracted to a private company.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Waste collection missed for about 13,000 southwest Edmonton homes last week due to contractor challenges adjusting to new system|url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/waste-collection-missed-for-about-13000-southwest-edmonton-homes-last-week-due-to-contractor-challenges-adjusting-to-new-system|access-date=September 14, 2021|website=edmontonjournal|language=en-CA}}</ref>

An [[anaerobic digester]] began service in April 2021, and has the capacity to process 40,000 tonnes of organic waste annually.<ref name=":4" /> This facility produces high-quality compost and generates renewable heat and electricity.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Edmonton|first=City of|date=March 16, 2021|title=Organics Processing Program|url=https://www.edmonton.ca/programs_services/garbage_waste/edmonton-composting-facility.aspx|access-date=March 16, 2021|website=www.edmonton.ca}}</ref> Edmonton signed contracts for private partners to process the remaining 28,000 tonnes of organic waste generated annually.<ref name=":4" /> In spring 2021, the city started selling compost produced at this facility.<ref name=":4" />

The city will roll-out the new waste collection service to the remaining multi-unit households which receive curbside service, but were not included in the initial transition, in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Edmonton|first=City of|date=March 16, 2021|title=Apartment and Condo Communal Waste Collection|url=https://www.edmonton.ca/programs_services/garbage_waste/multi-family-collection-recycling.aspx|access-date=March 16, 2021|website=www.edmonton.ca}}</ref> Meanwhile, the city has stopped offering curbside waste collection from commercial businesses, and has not yet said whether businesses will eventually be required to separate their organic waste.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Edmonton|first=City of|date=March 16, 2021|title=Commercial Waste Management Services|url=https://www.edmonton.ca/programs_services/garbage_waste/commercial-waste.aspx|access-date=March 16, 2021|website=www.edmonton.ca}}</ref> The rollout of the new waste collection system follows a successful two-year pilot program which began service in 2019, and included 8,000 households in 12 neighbourhoods.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Organics pilot project sets the tone for Edmonton's future waste system {{!}} CBC News|language=en-US|work=CBC|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/edmonton-waste-organics-pilot-1.5266744|access-date=March 16, 2021}}</ref>

The [[Edmonton Composting Facility]] was the largest of its type in the world, and the largest [[stainless steel]] building in North America.<ref name="Edmonton Composting Facility">{{cite web|url=http://www.edmonton.ca/for_residents/garbage-recycling.aspx |author=City of Edmonton |title=Edmonton Composting Facility |access-date=February 27, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100921100353/http://edmonton.ca/for_residents/garbage-recycling.aspx |archive-date=September 21, 2010 }}</ref> Among the innovative uses for the city's waste included a [[Christmas tree]] recycling program. The trees were collected each January and put through a [[woodchipper]]; this material was used as an addition to the [[composting]] process. In addition, the wood chips absorbed much of the odour produced by the compost by providing a [[biofilter]] element to trap odour causing gaseous results of the process.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|url=http://www.edmonton.ca/for_residents/garbage_recycling/edmonton-composting-facility.aspx |author=City of Edmonton |title=Edmonton Composting Facility |access-date=February 27, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100922100253/http://edmonton.ca/for_residents/garbage_recycling/edmonton-composting-facility.aspx |archive-date=September 22, 2010 }}</ref> The composting facility was permanently shut down in 2019 after an inspection found that the structural integrity of its roof was compromised.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Edmonton Composting Facility shutting down immediately due to rotten roof|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/5329568/edmonton-composting-facility-closed/|website=Global News|language=en|access-date=May 16, 2020}}</ref>

Together, the Waste Management Centre and Wastewater Treatment plant are known as the Edmonton Waste Management Centre of Excellence. Research partners include the University of Alberta, the Alberta Research Council, the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, and [[Olds College]].<ref name="Edmonton Waste Management Centre of Excellence">{{cite web |url=http://www.ewmce.com/ |author=Edmonton Waste Management Centre of Excellence |title=Edmonton Waste Management Centre of Excellence |access-date=February 28, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106124106/http://www.ewmce.com/ |archive-date=January 6, 2009 }}</ref>