Landfill and Composting Field Trip

Today, we went on a field trip to the Composting Facility and Landfill with someone who worked there named Shannon. First, we visited the Composting Facility. 

Shannon showed us a diagram that explained how composting works. Here are the steps: 

1. Compost is dumped onto the Tipping Floor. We could see this through the windows of the classroom!
2. Then, it is put through the shredder. 
3. Then, it is put in a vessel where it stays for 3 weeks. They add water and oxygen to help it decompose! Bacteria need water and oxygen to survive. Wood chips are used to filter the bad smell out of the air.
4. Next, it is screened. They use a magnet to pull any metal out of it. They use a cyclone to blow any plastic out of it.
5. Then, it is put in the Curing Shed for 3 more weeks. 
6. Now, they test it to make sure it's safe to sell/give away.

This is the tipping floor. They are adding wood chips to the bio-solids.

Shannon took us on a tour of the landfill. At the Eco-Centre, we saw spots for hazardous waste, like batteries, propane tanks, old bear spray, cleaning chemicals, e-waste, like computers, pesticides, paint, helium tanks, aerosol containers, antifreeze, motor oil and more! There was a spot for fridges and freezers to have their freon removed. We also saw a pile of tires, lawnmowers, and groups of bikes. There was also a spot for styrofoam.

The Hazardous Waste area of the Eco-Centre

There was a compost area for big yard waste, such as Christmas trees and tree branches, that can't go in your compost bin.

The landfill layers

In the landfill, we learned about its layers. We used fabric to make a mini hand-fill. :) A landfill has these layers: 

1. Clay 
2.  Plastic lining
3. Gravel
4. Garbage
5. Soil
6. Leachate filters

We saw just how much garbage the city makes and it's A LOT! We've learned where things should go to avoid sending them to the landfill, like in the recycling, compost, or thrift stores. Overall, we had a lot of fun and learned so much!

Here is the Trash Master at work!

"I didn't know how long of a process composting takes." ~ Wynn

"I didn't know that there was so much garbage. I thought it was going to be one hill." ~ Gillian

"In the landfill, there was a lot of things I didn't know about, like the layers they do, and that they shred it up and all of the machines." ~ Effie

"I did not know that just this city produced a LOT of garbage each year." ~ HC

"I saw the Trash Master going over the trash so it's all compacted together." ~ AA

"We became secret agents." ~ Davyd

"In the end, I have to agree with my brother, it DOES smell bad." ~ EF

"I'm surprised how tall the landfill is built up." ~ Cora

"I learned how if you put organics in the landfill, they won't decompose." ~ Oliver

"Overall, composting is not just a pile of scraps that turns into soil." ~ Oscar

"It surprised me enough that composting and recycling are at the 5 spot for goodness." ~ Jackson