The City of Yorkton is partnering with the University of Regina, along with Communities of Tomorrow and Agmar Marketing, to complete a recycling assessment report. The project, which will be carried out by the fourth year Environmental Systems Engineering class, will see six to ten groups write and present a report based on information from the city.
The report will be based on the concept of "Feel Good or Earth Friendly" and analyze different aspects of recycling in the city. The reports will evaluate issues such as current markets, carbon footprints, transportation of products.
The results of the project will be published in the Municipal connector, and will potentially be published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.
"The mandate of the Environmental Committee is to obtain zero waste to the landfill by 2026. To accomplish this, all rationalization of waste disposal, behaviors, markets, transportation costs and utilization of material must be analyzed. In order to create such a report at a reasonable cost, one must look outside the box," says Michael Buchholzer, Director of Environmental Services.
The City of Yorkton will contribute a maximum $3,500 to the project, based on a full classroom. The money will be used to compensate for travel and compiling the report. If there are fewer students than anticipated, that number could decrease. The total projected budget is $9,100, less in-kind contributions. Communities of Tomorrow will contribute the remaining $5,600 for the project.
Councillor Bob Maloney says he's excited to see the findings in the report.
The final report will form part of the Pyrolosis Feasibility Study project that was approved in the 2012 budget.
City Council voted unanimously to approve the funding and the project.
