Content on this page requires a newer version of Adobe Flash Player.

Get Adobe Flash player

Natural Yard Care and Composting

Home › Services › Environmental Services › Zero Waste Program ›

The Regional District has promoted composting and organics waste reduction since the early 1990s. With the City of Terrace, we have offered backyard composter distribution programs, provided advice and expertise to residents, and provided community yard waste composting.

In 2007, we are expanding our focus from simple composting education to what is called Natural Yard Care. In addition to composting, we are promoting LawnSmart lawn maintenance, waterwise and organic gardening, biological pest control, mulching, and alternatives to grass for groundcover.

This broadening of focus means we need to develop and deliver many new programs. Our Diversion Credit program and this website are the beginning and we hope to offer more services soon in partnership with local organizations.

We have faith that an educated public will do the right thing when it comes to their lawn and garden...what we offer them are the tools to do just that.

Quick Facts

  • Over 30% of all household waste in Kitimat-Stikine is organic (i.e., food waste and yard trimmings).
  • Up to 50% of all waste including contaminated paper products can be composted.
  • Diverting organics from disposal helps to reduce the production of leachate and methane gas at landfills.
  • On average residents spend 22 minutes a week, or just over 3 minutes a day in composting activities
  • Aerating a compost bin once a week will speed up the composting process.
  • By keeping organic waste (yard trimmings and certain food wastes) out of the municipal solid waste system, residents save tax dollars in the long run.

Building or Buying Backyard Composters

Backyard composters can be simple and inexpensive to build yourself. The Regional District has building plans available free of charge that include a materials list. You can also download plans free of charge from this website.

 

If you wish to purchase a pre-fabricated composter, a few garden centres and building supply stores carry them. In the Terrace area, both Canadian Tire and Rona sell the Garden Gourmet unit.

Composting and other Organic Yard Care tricks

Organic yard care is not just for green thumbs. The focus of these methods is to allow gthe naturally occuring pest and weed control methods to do the work of expensive and damaging pesticides and severe mowing methods that use up your precious time and introduce unnecessary fumes and noise in your neighbourhood.

The North Shore Recycling Program website contains excellent information on Natural Yard Care. This link will take you their site, where you will find information on:

  • Backyard Composting and Mulching, including:
    • Making Compost - The Art of Backyard Composting
    • Composting and Mulching Systems
    • Making Compost - A Simple Summary
    • Making Mulch - A Simple Summary
    • How to Build a Compost Bin
    • Tips on Using Compost
    • Troubleshooting Compost Problems
  • Worm Composting
  • Natural Lawn Care and alternative ground covers
  • Organic gardening
  • Waterwise gardening
  • Biological pest control

Another great site with a more northern focus is provided by REAPS - Recycling and Environmental Action Planning Society, based in Prince George.

For tips on reducing problems with bears, visit the BearAware site. We also like the information available through City Farmer - this is a large site with information on many topics so if you have a specific question, you may want to use their Google search function. Check out their live webcam for their composting demonstration garden.

Waterwise gardening

Water shortages aren't a problem for many residents but if your well is low or the cost of treating water to drinking standards for yard use gets on your nerves, here are some ideas for conserving water in the yard:

  • mulching helps retain moisture in your gardens and lawns
  • keep your grass longer - 5 cm or 2.5 inches still looks good and help retain moisture and keeps weeds down
  • collect rainwater with a system of gutters and containers such as rainbarrels
  • the Garden Watersaver is an automatic rainwater collection system that can be hooked up to any container that can hold water. Containers can be hidden or placed in low visibility locations, and can be deactivated in seconds during winter or when stored water is not needed. And the kits are really economical! To find out how you can order your Garden Water Saver kit, visit www.gardenwatersaver.com