qathet Regional District (qRD) has resumed transporting and processing organics with Salish Soils, located in Sechelt, until a local organics processing solution is secured.
In March 2023, The Green Waste Company Powell River informed qRD that it was suspending organics processing in Powell River. In April 2023, qRD decided to terminate organics processing facility discussions with the company because a mutually acceptable agreement between the parties was unlikely to be reached within a reasonable period of time.
In June, qRD considered engaging with The Green Waste Company Powell River to temporarily continue processing organics. According to a media release from the regional district, before qRD could make its decision public, The Green Waste Company Powell River informed qRD that it would be terminating its offer again, and shutting down its business.
“Organics constitute approximately 40 per cent of the region’s residential waste stream,” stated Arnold Schwabe, qRD's manager of asset management and strategic initiatives. “Since 2011, the qRD has made considerable efforts to establish local composting options to support the diversion targets identified in the qRD’s Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP) while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions."
In identifying a location for an organics processing facility within the qathet region, it has been determined that the new resource-recovery centre is not suitable due to the lack of space on the site, the release stated. The resource-recovery centre site will facilitate organics drop off and act as an organics holding point for a larger processing location.
“The qRD is responsible for long-term planning and management of solid waste for the entire regional district, which includes the diversion of organic materials from the general waste stream,” stated qRD board chair Clay Brander. “The qRD will continue to explore opportunities for processing organics locally to support our local circular economy and continue towards our regional goal of zero waste."
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