In the absence of available composting facilities in the region, the Township of Esquimalt is investigating options for dealing with collected kitchen scraps in the municipality.
In the interim, the Township recommends that residents continue separating kitchen scraps from their garbage in accordance with Bylaw 2815, adopted by Council in February 2014. Kitchen scraps continue to be sorted at Hartland Landfill and transported to a compost facility on Cobble Hill, but this facility will not be available to the Township after April 9th.
The Capital Regional District’s Environmental Services Committee recently rejected a CRD staff recommendation to award a contract to Emterra Environmental to haul food scraps to the Lower Mainland on an interim basis until a longer term solution can be found.
“I am thankful to our residents for their patience,” said Mayor Barbara Desjardins. “The interim solution proposed by the CRD was uneconomical, and no plan was in place for the longer term. I am seeking a local and long-term solution to this problem that would see an efficient and innovative facility built in the region as soon as possible. We should also be exploring the possibility of combining sewage biosolids and kitchen scraps in the same facility.”
The CRD Board will be making a final decision on whether to ratify the Environmental Services Committee decision at its next meeting on April 9th, 2014.
The Township’s Engineering and Public Works Department will be discussing possible options with Council at the Township’s April 14th Committee of the Whole Meeting, and will continue to work with the CRD on options for future compost processing in the region.
Solid waste collection information resources are available here.
For more information please contact:
Jeff Miller, Director of Engineering and Public Works
Tel: 250-414-7108