Compost Facility

The City’s wastewater treatment compost facility at the Campbell Mountain Landfill no longer meets updated Provincial requirements.

Recently, an opportunity has arisen to combine resources with the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS), which seeks to build an organic composting facility. This proposal involves working together to improve the existing site.

The RDOS is purchasing the property adjacent to the existing wastewater treatment compost site to build an in-vessel (indoor) facility to compost both wastewater solids and organics separately. 

The RDOS is applying for a grant that would fund a large portion of the project’s capital costs. This project would also streamline operating costs through consolidating equipment and personnel resources.

Feedback gathered by the City of Penticton in 2018 indicated strong support from local residents to establish an organics composting facility. Also, a 2019 study recommended introducing in-vessel composting (an enclosed environment), which minimizes nuisances such as noise and odours.

This new composting facility would make it possible for residents, commercial retailers and farmers to dispose of their food and agricultural waste in a sustainable way.

This proposal requires amending the Solid Waste Management Plan. Also, it involves legislative requirements to determine the location, including Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) and rezoning applications. Citizens are invited to provide feedback by visiting the RDOS community engagement website at rdosregionalconnections.ca. 

Benefits of the Proposed Facility

Advantages of building an organics composting facility at 1313 Greyback Mountain Road include:

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Reduce wait times at the landfill by diverting yard waste to the new property
• Reduce the need for the agricultural community to burn trees and prunings
• Create food waste compost, a valuable soil additive for the agricultural community
• Offer commercial retailers another means to dispose of food waste
• Extend the life of the landfill by diverting food waste

The upgrades to Penticton’s wastewater treatment compost facility at Campbell Mountain Landfill have been flagged as an immediate need. This location no longer meets updated Provincial requirements and this issue must be addressed so that the City can continue to process our wastewater solids.

Whether the City chooses to partner with the RDOS, the facility must be upgraded and will remain at this location.

Feedback gathered from Penticton citizens in 2018 indicated strong support for establishing an organics composting facility. Also, a 2019 study recommended introducing in-vessel composting (an enclosed environment), which minimizes nuisances including noise and odours. 

The RDOS is gathering feedback about the proposed organics composting facility at rdosregionalconnections.ca until Oct. 2, 2020. The results will be submitted to the RDOS board for consideration as part of an application to the ALC.

Penticton needs to upgrade its wastewater treatment compost facility. By combining resources with the RDOS, which seeks to build an organics composting facility, it’s anticipated the City can gain efficiencies. This all-in-one facility would combine resources to meet the needs of both parties.

The RDOS is applying for a government grant which would cover a large portion of the capital costs. Also, operational costs would be streamlined through consolidating equipment and staff.

Composting is environmentally friendly, providing a means to convert food waste into a beneficial, useable topsoil. According to the RDOS, food waste and other organic materials account for approximately 40 percent of waste entering our landfill by weight.

Advantages of building an organics composting facility at 1313 Greyback Mountain Road include:

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Reduce wait times at the landfill by diverting yard waste to the new property
• Reduce the need for the agricultural community to burn trees and prunings
• Create food waste compost, a valuable soil additive for the agricultural community
• Offer commercial retailers another means to dispose of food waste
• Extend the life of the landfill by diverting food waste

Yes. Currently local agriculture industries are limited to burn piles, composting on site, or chipping these piles to eliminate their pruning and other organic brown waste.

During burning bans, these materials can’t be burned and chipping programs and on site and composting may not be possible if these organic wastes have pests or blight. The proposed composting facility would provide a more environmentally friendly option to facilitate these needs, while eliminating pests and blight.

The final compost product can be reused on local crops as a method of water and nutrient conservation.

The RDOS is proposing to build an in-vessel organics composting facility located east of the Campbell Mountain Landfill (CMLF). The RDOS is purchasing the property located east of the landfill to build an in-vessel facility to compost both wastewater solids and organics (in separate areas). The RDOS and City would manage the facility.

This proposal would require amending the Solid Waste Management Plan. Also, it involves legislative requirements to determine the location, including Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) and rezoning applications.

The property located at 1313 Greyback Mountain Road is the most fiscally responsible option for constructing the facility. The property is ideally located adjacent the existing landfill. There will be no increase in traffic on local roads and it will be possible to share equipment and staff resources between the two sites.

The facility could be sited on the existing CMLF property with a portion on ALR land. This presents options that are still viable but more costly to develop.

The proposals require amending the Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP) and involve legislative requirements to determine the location, including Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) and rezoning applications.

No. There will be separate areas for food waste compost and wastewater solids treatment composting.

Separating the two compost streams will allow for diversity in the final compost products and their respective uses. The food waste compost would create a topsoil amendment available to residents to use on their vegetable patches or for farmers to use on orchards and vineyards.

The wastewater compost is also suitable for landscaping.

If the proposed composting facility is approved, construction would take more than a year to complete.

The proposed composting facility will be designed to meet the latest standards and regulations.

Design standards will include liners and impermeable surfaces to trap any possible leachate, preventing ground water pollution. Liquids will be recirculated on-site, which will also reduce water consumption.

The organics composting facility will also alleviate the current traffic congestion and wait times at the landfill.

Vehicles with yard waste will go to the organics compost facility – not to the landfill. This will reduce lineups at the landfill scale, especially in the spring and fall when traffic volumes are much higher.

Even with more materials being composted, studies have indicated that odours will be reduced by approximately 70 percent over the current City of Penticton compost site.

Mixing and primary composting will take place inside buildings designed with state of the art odour control. Any equipment operating outdoors would be done in the daytime during regular business hours.

The City and the RDOS will conduct additional public engagement to consult with residents about developing a curbside collection program including appropriate organics waste bins. These costs have yet to be determined.

To contact the RDOS regarding this project, phone 250-490-4129 or email info@rdos.bc.ca. Also visit their engagement website, rdosregionalconnections.ca.