As the weather warms up and gardening season approaches, those with organic gardens can start using city compost.

The city has received the paperwork showing compost from the city compost facility can be used in organic gardens, council learned Monday night.

Peter O’Blenes, the city’s director of infrastructure and operations, told council that city compost has been approved as a listed product by the Organics Materials Review Institute (OMRI).

“Achieving OMRI product status provides assurance that the quality and consistency of the final product is excellent and can be used in organic gardens,” he said in a report to council presented at its meeting Monday evening.

“This improves the ability of the city to sell the product, and local food growers can use the city’s compost to develop greater local food security in Yukon.”

O’Blenes highlighted the city’s efforts to divert wasted – including organics – from the general landfill waste through its organics collection program.

It then sells the compost produced from the landfill with the compost now certified for organic use.

“Compost fertilizer certified for organic use supports greater soil fertility and displaces the need to buy non-local fertilizers, thus enhancing the territory’s overall sustainability,” he said.

While a 20-litre bag of city compost at the landfill costs $5, bulk compost can cost anywhere from $30 to $45, depending on the amount purchases.

Coun. Rob Fendrick attended Monday’s meeting by conference call.