Following a report presented to Town Council, on August 13, from the Green Team, co-chaired by Tammi Nygaard and Al Kendrick, it seems that a few programs are struggling due to lack of interest.
The rain barrel, composting, bokashi recycling program, and toilet rebate initiatives are the main ones in question.
“We are struggling if whether or not we should discontinue these programs for a couple of years because we really have no interest,” said Nygaard.
Out of 250 rain barrels the Town purchased, they sold 114 this year. Fifty composters were purchased, and 28 were sold. For the bokashi recycling program, 23 pet waste systems were purchased, with only three sold. For the bokashi food waste system, 25 were bought, with only five sold. These systems both include a fermenting process, which enables waste to biodegrade much faster than a conventional compost system. As for toilet rebates this year, there has only been 26 so far, compared with around 200 in the previous year said Kendrick.
Nygaard suggested that along with discontinuing these programs, until the interest grew again, the Town should sell the inventory they already have and move on to other initiatives. Council members seemed to agree.
“I recommend you consider a five or 10 year cycle and that you include sort of a different emphasis for each of those years, or even a two year span,” said Councillor Andrew Berdahl.
Councillor Berdahl also suggested that the rain barrel be kept as an ongoing initiative. He also said that the marketing and advertising of the programs and products is the key to success in the future.
Kendrick said to help get awareness out there, besides advertising through the Town page, Facebook, and website, that maybe next year the Green Team should possibly engage Communities in Bloom.
This could mean contests such as “paint your rain barrell” and some landscaping and contests in town.
“We have also taken a look at the water conservation side of things. There are many gadgets out there to help conserve water. However, our team needs to sit down and take another look at things,” said Nygaard.
