Residents will have more time to drop off their yard waste at a local facility next month.
Starting in October, the Beek Court Municipal Soil Management Facility will be open 24/7 to accommodate the growing number of residents who rely on this service.
Yard waste that is collected at the Facility is later composted on-site to create topsoil for City parks, flowerbeds, and construction sites. Last year, the City produced 8,000 cubic metres of topsoil from yard waste. That number has since jumped to 14,000 cubic metres so far this year.
“This Facility has grown into a much-needed resource in the community,” said Jillian Hudgins, Environmental Strategist with the City of Fredericton. “The continued investment in this facility highlights Fredericton’s dedication to providing valuable services to residents, while promoting environmental stewardship.”
The 24/7 service will operate seasonally between May and October, where residents can discard leaves, branches, woodchips, grass clippings, soil, and manure. Right now, the facility is open between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.
In coming weeks, the Facility will also acquire two large bins to streamline the process and make it easier for residents to navigate. One bin will be directed for brush and another will be used for organics, including sod, soil, and grass clippings. There will also be updated signage to provide clear instructions, site navigation, traffic flow, and bin labelling.
“The Soil Management Facility is the perfect example of how urban infrastructure can evolve to meet the needs of a growing community, while promoting sustainability and reducing environmental impact,” said Coun. Kevin Darrah, Chair of the City’s Environmental Stewardship Committee.
The Beek Court Municipal Soil Management Facility was established in the early 2000s for residents to have an area where they could discard yard waste, that would also be diverted from the landfill.
The Beek Court Municipal Soil Management Facility is located off Vanier Industrial Drive.