Haines Junction, Yukon, wants to hear from residents about how composting should work in the community. The village posted a new composting system survey on May 21, 2026, giving people a direct way to influence future organics collection and processing.
Right now, compostables like food scraps are not accepted at the local landfill. A waste management bylaw passed in September 2024 says the landfill will start taking them only after the Yukon Government supplies a composting unit. The survey is a chance for residents to say what they want that service to look like when it arrives.
The village has already seen strong interest in home composting. Since late 2023, a pilot program has placed 60 FoodCycler countertop units in households at reduced prices, with 30 more ordered last year. The units cost $150 or $300 depending on size, plus $12.50 for filter refills. Composting can cut household garbage by up to 40 percent, extending the landfill’s life and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 1.2 tonnes of CO2 for every tonne of food waste diverted.
Under the current rules, landfill users must sort their waste, and tipping fees help cover operating costs. The survey results could shape how the village rolls out wider composting once the territorial government delivers the equipment.
