Study helps set direction for new composting facility
Project Duration: -
WASTE
British Columbia
The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen, BC, extensively studied the viability of a new composting facility that would divert the region’s considerable organic waste from landfill.
Results
$25 to $42 per tonne
in potential savings on tipping fees with new composting site
12,873 tonnes
of organics potentially diverted from landfill per year
3,500 to 3,800 tonnes
of CO2e potentially reduced per year
In 2012, the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen took on a comprehensive feasibility study to identify the best site, equipment, methodologies and management options for a new composting facility.
Renowned for its picturesque orchards and world-class vineyards, the regional district holds significant potential for organics diversion. With agriculture and tourism at the core of its economy, over 40 percent of the district’s waste stream is made up of organics. The regional district wanted to explore options to process commercial and residential food waste, along with yard waste and other biosolids, at a single location, and sell the resulting compost.
The study compared government-run and private-sector composting options. It looked at possible effects on long-term land use planning, the environment and service costs. It also evaluated composting equipment and methods. The study’s recommendations included options for how to best manage the site to divert as much organic waste from landfill as possible. Seven potential sites were thoroughly analyzed and compared.
The project team held public consultations to respond to residents’ questions and concerns around a new composting facility. They also met with local agricultural groups to understand the type and quality of compost that would best meet various local needs. Residents’ top concern was odour control, and extensive odour modelling was a focal point of the study. While some of the modelling results were concerning to some residents, the data proved invaluable to the district.
The three-year study predicted that diverting food waste from landfill would reduce methane emissions and leachate and significantly extend the life of existing landfills. Depending on the approach taken, between 3,500 and 3,800 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) could be avoided each year.
The study also showed that the compost would benefit agriculture and the quality of produce grown in the region, supporting the local economy. The facility would create a small number of new jobs and bring in revenue through compost sales. Diverting food waste would also save money—with the expected tipping fee for composting food waste estimated at about $85 per tonne compared to $110 per tonne for disposal.
While the hunt for a site to host the future organic waste processing facility continues, this comprehensive study provided the district with a solid foundation for its future facility.
Photos courtesy of Tetra Tech, Inc.
Our comprehensive feasibility study showed the need for one high-tech regional site for commercial food waste, wastewater sludge and urban residential food waste. Our elected officials are able to make this large-scale decision because of the feasibility study.”
—Cameron Baughen, Solid Waste Management Coordinator, Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen
Want to explore all GMF-funded projects? Check out the Projects Database for a complete overview of funded projects and get inspired by municipalities of all sizes, across Canada.
Related Resources
See All
Webinar recording
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Webinar recording: Accelerate your community’s net-zero transformation with new GMF funding
Watch our webinar to discover how GMF’s new funding can help you upgrade infrastructure and reduce local GHG emissions.
Webinar recording
Municipal and community buildings
Energy | Housing
Municipal and community buildings
Energy | Housing
Webinar recording: How to get a project started, tips for small francophone communities
If you’re a small francophone municipality looking to develop sustainability projects and access funding, watch this webinar to learn how others overcame common challenges.
Webinar recording
Waste
Waste
Webinar recording: Net-Zero Circularity: Procurement
Watch this webinar recording to see how circular procurement can help put the principles of a circular economy into action.
Guide
Waste
Waste
Resources: Strengthening your municipality’s circular economy initiatives
Find case studies, exercises and worksheets to help your municipality reduce waste and strengthen its circular economy initiatives.
Webinar recording
Waste
Waste
Webinar recording: How to start the conversation about circular economies in your municipality
Webinar recording
Energy
Energy
Webinar recording: The 5 keys to a green municipal project business case
Watch this webinar recording and discover the five critical focus areas you need to address to get your project started, from financing and partnerships to integrating a triple-bottom-line approach.
Tool
Waste
Waste
Circular Cities & Regions Initiative
Interested in learning more about how the circular economy can come to life in cities and regions? Review the CCRI webinar recordings featuring speakers from leading organizations and global cities.
Webinar recording
Energy | Housing
Energy | Housing
Webinar recordings: Best practices in municipal sustainability
How are cities and communities of all sizes tackling their environmental challenges? Find out from our five-part webinar series on innovations and opportunities in municipal energy, waste, water, transportation and land use initiatives.
Report
Waste
Waste
Report: Solid waste management in Canadian municipalities
Expanding responsibility for producers to include the post-consumer stage of their products is a key solution for financial and environmental sustainability in the waste sector.
Webinar recording
Waste
Waste
Webinar recordings: Plastic waste management solutions for Canadian municipalities
Watch our webinar recordings to see how your Canadian municipality can reduce and better manage your plastic waste through innovative solutions and approaches.
Guide
Waste
Waste
Guide: 2018 Sustainable Communities Awards project guide: Waste
Learn how to implement the best practices and strategies used by Kitimat-Stikine, BC, our 2018 Sustainable Communities Awards waste winner.
Webinar recording
Energy | Housing
Energy | Housing
Webinar recording: How to prepare a GMF capital project application
Need advice for preparing your GMF capital project funding application? Watch our webinar recording to hear tips from our staff and find out what reviewers are looking for.
Guide
Waste
Waste
Six sustainability ideas that have gone mainstream in Canada: Article series
In a series of six articles, we explore inspiring projects and sustainability solutions being implemented in cities and towns of all sizes across Canada.
Guide
Waste
Waste
Guide: Sustainable Neighbourhood Development
This guide, Sustainable Neighbourhood Development: Practical Solutions to Common Challenges, is designed to help you re-imagine your municipality's approach to planning, development and regulation.
Webinar recording
Transportation
Transportation
Webinar recording: Solutions to municipal sustainability challenges
Watch our webinar recordings to learn how you can address sustainability challenges in waste management, transportation and asset management in your municipality.
Local energy generation