The Town of Newmarket has partnered with Food Cycle Science to establish a pilot program to tackle food waste. This program will allow for 100 FoodCycler® machines to be purchased by residents of Newmarket at a discounted cost. Once the pilot program is complete, the FoodCycler® machine is theirs to keep. The goal of the program is to review the feasibility of using FoodCyclers to support home composting, especially for those that may not have the space to conduct backyard composting.
“Up to 50 per cent of household waste is composed of food waste. By participating in this program, you are helping the Town of Newmarket address food waste while supporting our community’s environmental goals, and reducing your carbon footprint,” says Mayor John Taylor. “Your participation and feedback will help the Town collect waste diversion data that can be used for future waste programs.”
About the FoodCycler® Pilot Program
Interested program participants will have the option to choose between one of the following unit sizes depending on their household needs:
- FoodCycler Eco 3 – 3.5L capacity (ideal for households of 1-2 people) for $200 plus HST (regularly $599)
- FoodCycler Eco 5 – 5.0L capacity (ideal for households of 3 or more people) for $300 plus HST (regularly $799)
The FoodCycler® is a closed-loop indoor compost alternative that speeds up the natural decomposition process through aerobic digestion of waste. The unit dries and grinds food waste into a dry, odourless nutrient-rich by-product that is significantly reduced in weight and volume from its unprocessed state. The product is free from bacteria, weed seeds, and food-borne pathogens that were eliminated during the process. Some benefits are:
- Up to 90% volume reduction
- Quiet, compact, odourless operation and quick
- Easy to clean, easy to operate, no special training or skills required
- Reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) impact vs. landfill
Once complete, the FoodCycler® byproduct can be used to fertilize your garden, added to your composter or donated to friends and family who garden or compost!
How does the program work?
Each selected household that receives a FoodCycler® will be asked to track how many "cycles" they run their FoodCycler® through each week. This tracking allows Food Cycle Science and the Town to estimate the total waste diversion achieved over the 12-week pilot program. At the end of the 12 weeks, participants are asked to fill out an exit survey that will be used to evaluate the program's success and share any feedback participants may have. Review the FoodCycler® municipal guide to see what items can be composted.
How to register?
Registration for the pilot program will open on Monday, February 17, 2025. Please note that this program is only available to residents of the Town of Newmarket and only one entry per household is permitted.
For more information and to register, visit HeyNewmarket.ca/FoodCycler.
