Cold Lake city council has received an update from FoodCycle Science on the usage and waste diversion results from 100 FoodCyclers that were put into local homes as part of a pilot program in the community.
The program launched in late 2024, with two different models available in January 2025 for the 100 residents who signed up for the program. Over 12 weeks, residents tracked their usage to measure how much organic waste was diverted from the local Transfer Station and completed an exit survey at the end of the project.
“We know a number of people who had positive feedback about the program,” said Mayor Bob Mattice. “It was interesting to see the data as a whole for the past year. This gives council something to think about when it comes to waste diversion strategies.”
Based on the data collected, the machines diverted around 299.81 kilograms of food waste per household per year from the landfill, totalling 29.98 metric tonnes. Residents also reported producing 0.75 fewer standard garbage bags per week, or about 39 fewer garbage bags per household per year, which did not end up at the transfer station landfill.
Operating costs per unit ranged from $8 to $20 per month, based on one to four cycles per week, depending on usage. Most of the feedback was positive, highlighting the convenience of the device. However, some noted the additional cost of the filters that are required to keep the machine running smoothly.
Council accepted the report as information and will look at the City’s business plan and waste diversion strategy once they have established a formal diversion target.
