Construction is underway on three organics receiving and processing facilities in the East Kootenay as part of our Regional Organics Initiative.

Working with our Community Energy Manager, in 2019 the RDEK applied for - and received - funding through the Organics Infrastructure Program to construct three organics receiving and processing facilities to take the first step in recovering compostable organic waste. The 2018 Waste Audit identified approximately 29% of the waste going into local landfills.

The total project cost is just under $3M and construction is expected to be largely complete in 2024.

RECEIVING FACILITY INFRASTRUCTURE

The construction of the receiving facilities is in Phase 1: developing a regional organics program. It focuses solely on construction of capital infrastructure to receive and process organics. The facilities are designed to be scalable to suit future needs and will use an aerated windrows design, similar to other nearby successful facilities such as the one in Creston, BC.

In addition to residential-type organics that will be accepted through municipal curbside programs, the organics facility will also incorporate green, yard and biosolid waste generated or collected by local governments in the region.

There is one receiving facility being constructed in each of the RDEK's 3 subregions:

  • Central Subregion (Cranbrook, Kimberley, Electoral Areas B, C and E)
    • The Central Receiving Facility is being constructed at the Central Subregion Landfill.
  • Columbia Valley (Canal Flats, Invermere, Radium, Electoral Areas F and G)
    • The Columbia Valley Receiving Facility is being constructed at an industrial property in the Invermere Industrial area that has been used for years for storing biosolids from the Invermere Wastewater (Sewage) System. The biosolids will be mixed with green waste as part of the ongoing operations at this site, which not only provides an excellent source of stock for the Receiving Facility but helps the District of Invermere deal with it's biosolids in an environmentally friendly fashion.
  • Elk Valley (Fernie, Sparwood, Elkford, Electoral Area A)
    • The Elk Valley Receiving Facility is being constructed at the Sparwood Transfer Station.

Once operational, the facilities will initially produce Class B compost, which is not available for public use or resale, but can be used by local governments in its operations for things such as top soil amendment for final closure at landfills, landscaping and potentially greenscape projects. The demand for the final product within local government operations currently exceeds what the anticipated final volumes will be, so the material will all be put to good use.

PHASE 2 - COLLECTION

Phase 2 would involve development of an organics collection program.

Some municipalities (such as the City of Kimberley) applied separately for grant funding to establish their own municipal curbside organics programs and are already collecting, or in the process of getting ready to collect, municipal compostable organics. The current project will ensure there is a proper facility to receive and process material collected through these municipal programs. As Kimberley started their organics collection prior to final construction of the receiving facility, the RDEK is stockpiling those collected organics on site until the new receiving area is complete and ready to begin processing later this fall.

Development of a region-wide organics collection program (Phase 2) would be a future phase for the RDEK. It would have to be identified as a priority project by the RDEK Board and would require additional grants or funding before it could proceed on a wider scale.

We gratefully acknowledge our funding partners: Columbia Basin Trust, the Government of Canada and Province of British Columbia

CONSTRUCTION UPDATES