Old Massett’s composting program is continuing to reshape how the community handles waste, with new data showing both measurable gains and significant room for expansion.
In 2025, the program diverted 30.5 tonnes of organic material from the waste stream, reducing overall garbage volumes by about 17.4 per cent.
The initiative, K’wiyée tla ‘láasaang (Making the Soil Well), launched in late 2024 as a community-driven effort to keep food waste out of the landfill and return nutrients to the soil. Early phases focused on collecting organics from public buildings before expanding into a full curbside pickup program for households.
Today, close to 100 households are participating, using collection buckets for kitchen scraps that are picked up weekly and processed locally. The system accepts a wide range of materials, including meat and bones, which are shredded, mixed with wood chips and processed through a specialized composting unit.
Despite that progress, participation remains below its potential. Earlier estimates suggested the program was reaching less than half of eligible households, a gap that still shapes its next phase.
With full participation, waste diversion could reach as high as 43 per cent, more than doubling current results.
The program reflects a broader shift in how waste is viewed in the community. Organic material that would otherwise decompose in landfill and produce methane is instead turned into compost that can support local gardens and food production.
The initiative is part of a wider push toward zero waste, alongside expanded recycling efforts and community-led environmental programs.
For remote communities like Old Massett, reducing landfill pressure and transport needs carries both environmental and financial benefits.
As the program matures, the focus is expected to shift toward increasing participation and building on early success.
If more households come on board, the program could significantly reduce the community’s overall waste footprint in the coming years.
