Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen Organic Management Feasibility Study

The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS), BC, will study the feasibility of technical and financial options for a new composting program to divert organic waste from its landfill, reduce leachate and greenhouse gas emissions, and anticipate provincial requirements to ban organics from landfills. At present, organics make up 30 to 50 per cent of the region’s waste stream, but the district has no public or private facilities to receive food waste, and there is limited capacity for processing yard waste and other bio-solids. Led by the RDOS’ solid waste division and a team of technical consultants, the study will review potential locations for composting facilities, evaluate proposed composting equipment and methodologies, and recommend options for site management in order to maximize the tonnage of organics diverted from landfill. The primary objective is to compare the scenarios of government-run composting with options for private-sector composting services, and to examine possible effects on long-term land use planning, the environment, and service costs. The team will complete a triple bottom line analysis to consider whether the RDOS should develop public composting sites, assist in creating private composting operations or — given the district’s geographic size — both. The chosen option will have the best potential to achieve the most cost effective, socially and environmentally acceptable approach. Based on lessons learned in other communities, odour control methods and odour mapping will also be a study focal point. In addition, the district will look at opportunities for selling locally generated compost to nearby farms or for using it as landfill cover. The study process will involve various stakeholder consultations through open houses, websites, public hearings and direct consultation, including with several local First Nation communities. The RDOS already diverts over 50 per cent of its solid waste from landfill and estimates it could divert another 13 per cent by targeting organics, which could reduce greenhouse gases by 17,000 CO2e per year. The district will share knowledge gained through this study and assist other rural regional districts in making similar assessments as they move toward upgrading their waste management infrastructure. (Project description from original funding application)