REQUEST FOR DIRECTION
DATE: September 11, 2019 Report No. EPW-19-032
TO: Laurie Hurst, Chief Administrative Officer
FROM: Jeff Miller, Director of Engineering and Public Works
SUBJECT:
Title
Integrated Resource Management
End
ESSENTIAL QUESTION:
Does Council want to proceed with the study for the Integrated Resource Management philosophy for solid waste, kitchen scraps, yard/ garden, and sanitary waste latent heat streams?
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
That the COTW receive Staff Report EPW-19-032 for information, provide any additional direction to staff as the COTW considers advisable, and direct staff to prepare a report for Council’s consideration.
Body
BACKGROUND:
In February of 2018, a Notice of Motion was introduced to Council for the Township to investigate the possibility that an Integrated Resource Management philosophy be reviewed for the various waste streams produced by the Township. Gasification technology was the preferred process for the treatment of several of the streams.
This subject was further discussed at the March 2018 Committee of the Whole. The Committee provided direction to staff that a line item be part of the budget discussions for the 2019-2023 Financial Plan. In May of 2019, this project was approved with a budget of $75,000 assigned to it.
During discussions, the Capital Regional District [CRD] continued work treatment processes for both the bio solids waste stream and kitchen scraps waste stream. For the bio solids, anaerobic technology was chosen to treat the bio solids. Disposal of the treated bio solids is a subject still under discussion.
A request for proposal was issued for the treatment of the kitchen scraps in late 2018/early 2019. No decision has been made on the treatment methodology or how to deal with the end product(s) and staff have not been updated on the status of this project.
ISSUES:
Staff has prepared a Request for Proposal for the study of IRM philosophy with respect to the Township’s waste streams [Attachment No. 1]. The purpose of the Project will determine the viability of implementing this philosophy and its impact on current operating methodologies along with determining what Provincial approvals will be required.
There are three options for this project:
• Option 1 - Proceed with the Project in 2019
o Will determine whether or not this philosophy is a valid operating philosophy for the Township
o Would be in competition for feed stock(s) that could be utilized on a regional basis to implement the still to be chosen CRD treatment methodology for kitchen scraps and possibly yard and garden waste
• Option 2 - Delay the Project until the CRD has determined a treatment methodology(s) for kitchen scraps and possibly yard/garden waste
o Allows for the Township to determine if the chosen treatment process will meet the Township’s goals
o Dependent on CRD for determining treatment process(s)
o Not necessary that the all the waste streams will be treated
• Option 3 - Abandon the Project
o Funds collected during the 2019-2023 Financial Plan will be removed from the Plan and added to Accumulated Surplus
o No work to be carried out
o Township will be dependent of the CRD for determining treatment process(s)
ALTERNATIVES:
1. That the COTW receive Staff Report No. EPW-19-032 for information, provide any additional direction to staff as the COTW considers advisable, and direct staff to prepare a report for Council’s consideration.
2. That the COTW provide alternative direction to staff.
3. That the COTW request further information from staff.