To the Editor,

I was happy to read the article in the Nov. 10 issue of the Haliburton Echo, describing the efforts of Dysart et al councillors to reduce the amount of organic waste being sent to landfill elsewhere in Ontario. Organic material when combined with other types of waste in an anaerobic environment produces methane, a powerful greenhouse gas which contributes to climate change. But when it is composted properly, it is worth its weight in gold in its capacity to create nutrient rich soil.
In these pandemic days of 2020, we became aware of how food insecure we are in this county with its mostly sandy, rocky soil. It is predicted by experts that the world will run out of soil for growing crops in as few as 60 years, if we continue with current industrial agricultural practices. We need to change the way we think about organic waste.
Although many have obtained backyard composters at cost from Dysart et al, organic waste from such sources as restaurants, hospitals or grocery stores is wasted. A municipal scale composting facility such as the one operating in Gravenhurst, Ontario, which produces top grade compost could help to expand the capacity of our county to grow its own food.

Susan Hay,
President, Environment Haliburton!