Dealing With Deadstock: A Case Study of Carnivore Conflict Mitigation From Southwestern Alberta

Livestock deaths are an unfortunate reality for livestock producers and dead livestock (i.e., deadstock) disposal options can have implications beyond the ranch itself. In Alberta, Canada, natural disposal (i.e., disposing of the carcass in a manner that allows for scavenging) has increased since the 2003 detection of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Canadian cattle. Prior to BSE, rendering companies removed deadstock for free. However, rendering companies started charging producers to remove deadstock to offset costs associated with new regulatory requirements enacted by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, which has resulted in increased on-farm natural disposal of deadstock. This increase has ecological implications because deadstock are a major attractant for large carnivores. Carnivores feeding on deadstock are often near other agricultural attractants such as stored grain and feed, silage, and living livestock, which can exacerbate conflict potential and pose a risk to human safety. To help mitigate conflicts associated with deadstock, the Waterton Biosphere Reserve's (a local non-profit) Carnivores and Communities Program (CACP) supported expansion of community deadstock removal efforts beginning in 2009, including reimbursement of on-farm removal costs, bear-resistant deadstock bins, and a livestock compost facility (operational 2013–2014). Here, we present an evaluative case study describing the development, implementation, and results of the deadstock removal program, including the compost facility. We tracked the number of head of livestock removed each year, the number of participating landowners, the average cost per head, and total program costs. We also used an online survey to assess participants' perspectives of the deadstock removal program and future needs. To date, the CACP has removed >5,400 livestock carcasses, representing between 15.1 and 22.6% of available carcasses in the program area, and 67.3% of livestock owners indicated they currently use the deadstock removal program to dispose of deadstock. Average cost to compost an animal was significantly less than other removal methods ($36.89 composting vs. $79.59 non-composting, one-tailed t-test, unequal sampling variances: t = 4.08, df = 5.87, p = 0.003). We conclude by discussing both ecological and social implications for deadstock removal as a conflict mitigation measure and make suggestions for future management considerations.

Compost Plant Site Selection for Food Waste Using GIS Based Multicriteria Analysis

Marketplace waste collection is one of the crucial services provided by the district municipalities in Turkey. A significant amount of food waste is periodically collected from marketplaces. However, an important opportunity for recycling and mitigation climate change is missed because these waste are sent to landfills. Composting, one of the waste management technologies applied to organic waste to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and produce compost, is often preferred for the management of marketplace waste. This study aims to determine suitable locations for compost facilities to manage marketplace waste with the help of GIS considering economic, environmental, and topographic factors in Izmir, Turkey. There are 199 marketplaces in Izmir and each has at least one market a week. Each marketplace was weighted by means of population served by using location-allocation analysis since the amount of waste collected from the marketplaces is not known. First, an exclusion analysis was performed to remove limited use areas. Then, a preference analysis was performed. Factors affecting plant site selection process for composting marketplace waste, including marketplace locations and weights, were determined. Since all factors do not have equal importance, the analytical hierarchy process was used to determine weights for each factor based on their influence. The study area was spatially evaluated for each preference factor and a suitability map was created for each factor. Finally, a high-resolution final suitability map was obtained by combining each factor’s suitability map along with their weights. Areas with a suitability index greater than 80% have been defined as suitable areas for compost facility installation. The results indicate that there are 323 potential locations suitable for compost facilities in Izmir.

Biosolids composting at the Borough of Mechanicsburg, PA WWTP

The Borough of Mechanicsburg, located in central Pennsylvania, was experiencing challenges in finding sufficient agricultural fields to continue the beneficial use of their anaerobically digested liquid wastewater treatment plant Class B biosolids. At the time, the only alternative available was dewatering and going to landfill, which is significantly more expensive. Due to environmental concerns and costs related to the alternatives, biosolids composting was selected to produce a Class A/EQ (Exceptional Quality) biosolids product, thus providing expanded opportunities for beneficial use. From the initial feasibility review to operational status, the implementation spanned nine (9) years, starting in 2005. The upgrade to composting was in conjunction with many other plant upgrades. Material Matters, Inc. provided support through the entire process including the feasibility study, pilot testing, cost assessment, compost facility design requirements, equipment assessment and recommendation, start-up testing, software development, permitting, fertilizer registration, product promotion, and marketing.