REQUEST FOR DECISION
DATE: February 17, 2021 Report No. EPW-21-006
TO: Laurie Hurst, Chief Administrative Officer
FROM: Jeff Miller, Director of Engineering and Public Works
SUBJECT:
Title
Comments on Capital Regional District’s Draft Solid Waste Master Plan End
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
That Council direct staff to contact the Capital Regional District to request that a section regarding Integrated Resource Management/Gasification be included in the submission of the draft Solid Waste Master Plan, as outlined in Staff Report No. EPW-21-006.
Body
RELEVANT POLICY:
Solid Waste Collection and Disposal Bylaw, 2014, No. 2815
STRATEGIC RELEVANCE:
Healthy, Livable and Diverse Community - develop and implement strategies that reduce impact on the environment consistent with our Climate Action Charter Goals; and
Local Services and Infrastructure - Identify long term financial requirements for local services and infrastructure and promote opportunities to share services where operationally and financially beneficial
BACKGROUND:
On February 1, 2021, the Capital Regional District (CRD) made a presentation on the draft Solid Waste Master Plan (SWMP) to Council. The draft SWMP in the process of receiving public and municipal comments before being finalized for submission to the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MOE) for review and acceptance. Council has not had the opportunity since the presentation to provide their comments to the CRD. A letter was sent to the CRD expressing Council’s intent to comment after the close of the comment period. See Attachment 1.
At the same meeting, Council reviewed early budget approval requests, including a request for funding to determine what is required to submit and receive approval for an amendment to the SWMP. This amendment to the SWMP would determine how to apply Integrated Resource Management via gasification technology to the solid waste, kitchen scraps and yard/garden waste streams generated by the Township.
ISSUES:
1. Rationale for Selected Option
The draft SWMP is a document to provide a blueprint for the management of solid waste, kitchen scraps and yard/garden and recyclables streams for the CRD. The three main strategies of the SWMP are: 1) Reduction & Reuse, 2) Recycling, 3) Recovery & Residuals Management. There are 15 initiatives within the SWMP to accomplish the three strategies. See Attachment 2. The Township has reviewed the draft SWMP and is supportive of it.
However, the Township does want to see a modification added to the draft SWMP. Based on a conceptual report commissioned by the Township in 2020 there is the possibility that waste streams generated within the Township could be managed under an Integrated Resource Management (IRM) philosophy. With this objective in mind, the Township is requesting that the CRD include a section within the SWMP that recognizes the Township’s initiative of IRM/gasification and that the section is brought to the attention of MOE.
2. Organizational Implications
The SWMP review and the IRM initiative have been incorporated into the Director of Engineering and Public Works work schedule as this position will be the project manager and primary contact between the CRD and MOE.
3. Financial Implications
There are no financial implications for the Township with requesting this change to the SWMP.
4. Sustainability & Environmental Implications
With the inclusion of this section within the SWMP the Township is suggesting that additional initiatives can be carried out that could have a positive impact on sustainable operations and the environment. MOE will be able to review this initiative and determine if meets the direction they have set for climate change and adaptation
5. Communication & Engagement
This request for the identification of the IRM/gasification initiative be contained within the SWMP will be forwarded to the CRD for inclusion.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. That Council direct staff to contact the Capital Regional District to request that a section regarding Integrated Resource Management/Gasification be included in the submission of the draft Solid Waste Master Plan, as outlined in Staff Report No. EPW-21-006.
2. That Council does not direct staff to contact the Capital Regional District to request that a section on Integrated Resource Management/Gasification be included in the submission of the draft Solid Waste Master Plan, set out in Staff Report EPW-21-006.