The Verdun District has recently acquired an industrial composter that will process organic waste from municipal buildings as well as businesses and organizations. This initiative is the first one in the Montreal administrative network.

The composter, which is 4.9 meters long with a 1.9 meter diameter, will process 175 tons of organic waste, annually. Apart from the municipal buildings, the Institute as well as other organizations will become the most important organic waster providers, with a mere 25 tons annually, for the Douglas alone.

The Institute has started in November to collect organic waste, starting with the brown paper towels dispensed in the bathrooms and the vegetal waste produced by the kitchen. “Our objective is to collect at least 25 tons of organic matter per year, but I’m positive we will be able to collect a lot more than that,” says André Desrosiers, Hygiene and Cleanliness Department Head.

This initiative in which the Douglas has taken part will hopefully allow for the Verdun community to reach its desired recycling level of 60% in 2009. This rate was at 53% in 2008 and 47% in 2007.