Halifax, October 25, 2001 - Halifax Regional Municipality will be taking steps to strengthen environmental practices, thanks to funding of $30,000 from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Green Municipal Funds (GMF) and $20,000 from RRFB Nova Scotia, to conduct an innovative study on the use of municipal compost on sports fields, Mayor Peter Kelly and the Honourable Robert Thibault, Minister for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, announced today.

"Our region's new integrated waste resource management system is recognized for successfully diverting solid waste from its landfill at a high level, and producing compost," said Mayor Kelly. "This study will enable us to determine the viability of using the compost to control common pest problems in turf grass, to improve our sustainable landscaping program, as well as, consider marketing opportunities for the compost."

In the Federal 2000 budget, the Government of Canada endowed the $125 million GMF to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, which manages the funds. The Funds are intended to stimulate investment in innovative municipal infrastructure projects and environmental practices in Canadian municipalities. The Funds leverage larger amounts for studies and projects through contributions by municipalities and private-sector partnerships.

"This study is important because it supports innovative ways to address solid waste management and explores the economic and marketing potential for the compost which is produced," said Minister Thibault. "I am pleased the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the Government of Canada are able to partner with the Regional Municipality of Halifax and RRFB to support this study."

The Regional Municipality of Halifax is contributing $24,000 to the study. The Green Municipal Enabling Fund (GMEF), a component of the Green Municipal Funds, is supporting the study. The GMEF covers up to half the cost of feasibility studies for projects that are aimed at cutting polluting emissions to air, water or soil through investments in energy or process efficiency or by promoting the use of renewable resources.

Councillor Reg Rankin, Chair of the HRM Solid Waste Resources Advisory Committee and a member of the FCM National Board of Directors, said that the compost would be used on a number of trial fields throughout the region. Dalhousie University is developing the analytical approach to monitor the applications. Mature compost made from organics collected in the region and processed by local compost plants will be used. Miller Compost and New Era Farms, both municipal compost processing facilities, will be involved in the study.

The compost will be applied in small sections of each field. The trials will assess the best approach and potential benefits of using compost on active sports fields to control common pest problems in turf grass. The project will begin immediately and is expected to continue until 2003. The aim is to determine the effectiveness of the compost in achieving reductions in the use of pesticide.

To date, 73 projects have received funding under the Green Municipal Funds with more than $4.1 million committed to improving municipal environmental performance and acting on cleaner air, water, soil and climate change in communities across Canada.

FCM has been the national voice of municipal governments since 1901. It is dedicated to improving the quality of life in communities by promoting strong, effective and accountable municipal government.

RRFB Nova Scotia is a not for profit agency which funds programs aimed at waste diversion and adding value to products recovered from waste. Since 1996, RRFB Nova Scotia has provided $29 million in funding to municipalities for waste management projects.
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For further information:

Brian Smith
Director Solid Waste ResourcesDirector Solid Waste Resources
490-6606

Councillor Reg Rankin
Chair HRM Solid Waste Resource Advisory Committee
499-3744

More information about the Green Municipal Funds is available on the FCM web site,www.fcm.ca. Also, visit the Government of Canada climate change web site, www.climatechange.gc.ca