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Soil Amendments

Whistler Composting is closing the recycling loop and producing a 100% organic Composted Soil Amendment. Whistler Composting collects food waste from the hospitality and grocery sectors, waste from land clearing, and biosolids. These inputs are composted using the latest in temperature controlled Wright in-vessel composting technology to produce a quality soil amendment. When blended into native soils this Soil Amendment puts nutrients back into the soil.

Whistler Composting Soil Amendment is nutrient rich, screened to 1/2 inch, and is suitable for blending with nutrient deficient native soils or sand, for unrestricted use in gardens, lawns, and landscaping. Composting produces a soil amendment full of micronutrients and beneficial soil microbes, which are essential for healthy plant growth. The temperature controlled composting system guarantees our Soil Amendment is pathogen free and weed free.

Carney’s Waste Systems is the proud reseller of the Soil Amendment and related products produced at the Whistler Compost Facility. The product is currently in use throughout the Sea to Sky Corridor, and in good demand. The product line is available for retail sales at the Whistler Transfer Station, for home and business deliveries please contact our office.

Benefits of Whistler Composting Soil Amendment:

• Increases beneficial microbial activity in the soil resulting in increased disease resistance
• Increases organic matter in deficient native soils
• Improves aeration, water absorption and moisture retention
• Improves the ability of root systems to remove nutrients from native soils
• Improves air quality from the reduction in burning of land clearing debris
• Provides immediate and long lasting nutrients to plants
• Reduces the need for harmful chemical fertilizers and the associated costs
• Reduces groundwater contamination from pesticides and chemical fertilizers
• Reduces green-house gas emissions associated with organic wastes in landfills
• Helps to achieve the Whistler 2020 zero-waste goals!

Turf Blend

Whistler Composting Turf Blend is a 50/50 mix of our composted soil amendment and sand suitable for top dressing or seeding lawns.

Applications:

• Establishment of new lawns
• Top Dressing existing lawns
• Irrigated landscaping projects requiring excellent drainage

Instructions for use:

• For top dressing aerate the lawn and rake up plugs, apply a thin layer of Turf Blend (~1/2”) and rake into the lawn. Over seeding can be done at the same time.
• For new lawns put down 6 inches of Turf Blend and lightly rake in seed. Keep well watered for 7-14 days to allow for germination.

Garden Blend

Whistler Garden Blend is a general purpose soil blend suitable for use without further blending.

Applications:

• Top Dressing existing Flower and Vegetable Garden beds
• Establishment of new Garden Beds
• Planting Shrubs and Trees
• Top Dressing lawns

Whistler Compost Soil

What is Whistler Compost Soil and what goes into it?
Whistler Compost is the end product of Whistler’s innovative composting program and part of the movement towards Whistler’s 2020 Zero Waste Goal. It is a safe, effective, environmentally-friendly, abundant, and affordable compost product. It is ideal for use in top dressing, landscaping, on vegetable gardens and as potting soil. Wood waste, food waste, and treated Biosolids from the Whistler Waste Water Treatment Plant go into our compost. The compost is then blended with local sand to assist with drainage and provide structure to the soil and is blended according to BC Landscape Standards.

Where does the food waste come from?
Restaurants in the Sea to Sky Corridor provide the majority of food waste. We also have organics food Collection bins at various locations throughout the corridor where we collect household food waste.

Do you use painted and treated wood waste? Where does the wood waste come from?
We do not use painted or treated wood. We only use clean wood waste sources for our compost, the biggest portion being forest floor residuals, land clearing debris, community forest waste and forest fuel management (ie. tree thinning around homes). A smaller percentage comes from landscape waste and local yard waste.

Are these pieces of wood in my soil? What is C/N ratio?
Although they appear to look like wood, they are actually larger pieces of compost. Their chemical composition has changed and they have a C:N ratio of 25:1-35:1 similar to that of fish compost (25:1-35:1). Compare that to wood chips or sawdust at a C:N ratio of 100:1-500:1. All organic matter is made up of substantial amounts of carbon (C) combined with lesser amounts of nitrogen (N). The balance of these two elements in an organism is called the carbon to nitrogen ratio (C:N ratio). The C:N range recommended by the BC Landscape Standard is 15:1- 40:1. Our compost soil mixes generally range from 13:1-20:1. The larger pieces of compost are full of nutrients which are beneficial to plants.

What are Biosolids and where do they come from?
Biosolids are a primarily organic, nutrient-rich, semisolid product resulting from the wastewater treatment process and can be beneficially recycled. When wastewater is treated in a sewage treatment facility, biosolids are one of the byproducts. Biosolids contain essential plant nutrients and organic matter; they can be treated, composted and used as a soil amendment and nutrient source to improve and maintain productive soils and stimulate plant growth. Biosolids have been used for centuries to improve soil fertility and productivity and recycling biosolids is good for the environment.

What is the difference between sewage and biosolids?
Sewage is the mixture of wastes that enters the treatment plant from the sewer system. Biosolids are a byproduct of the wastewater treatment process and have gone through extensive treatment before they are suitable for use as a feedstock for composting.

Are there pathogens or weeds in this compost?
No there are not pathogens or weeds in the soil. Pathogens and weeds are killed off with stable, high temperatures during the composting process.

Are there metals in the soil?
Trace amounts of metals such as lead, copper and zinc can enter waste water and therefore end up in treated biosolids which are then used as feedstock in compost. In small amounts these metals are actually required for plant growth and can improve crop yields. There is regular testing for metals to prevent metals from exceeding guidelines. This area is very low risk for heavy metals in our waste water as there is not a lot of heavy industry nearby.

Is it safe to use in my gardens? Is it safe to eat food that was grown in this soil? How is this process regulated?
Yes, Whistler Compost is safe to use on both ornamental and fruit/vegetable gardens. Yes, it is safe to eat food grown in our soil. It is important to wash the food you grow as well as to wash your hands after handling any soil. When compost is managed according to guidelines, there are negligible risks to the environment, human health and food safety. Whistler Compost is regulated by Organic Matter Recycling Regulations and approved by B.C.’s Ministry of Environment for safe reuse as a high grade Class A Compost.

What are the benefits of using Whistler Compost Soil?

• Contributes to recycling efforts including the Resort Municipality of Whistler’s Zero Waste Goal.
• Increases beneficial microbial activity in the soil resulting in increased disease resistance.
• Neutralizes toxins when added to existing soil.
• Improves aeration, water absorption and moisture retention
• Attracts earthworms that aerate the soil, improve drainage and bring up minerals from the subsoil for plants’ use.
• Assists in the breaking up of heavy clay soils or binding together large particles in sandy soils.
• Increases organic matter in deficient native soils and decreases soil erosion by increasing its structural strength
• Provides immediate, long lasting nutrients to plants and enhances plant color.
• Improves the ability of root systems to remove nutrients from native soils.
• Reduces the need for chemical fertilizers and the associated costs.
• It has a nice earthy smell rather than a foul odour.

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