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File #: 25-341    Version: 1 Name:
Type: Staff Report Status: Passed
File created: 9/17/2025 In control: Council
On agenda: 9/29/2025 Final action: 9/29/2025
Title: Integrated Resource Management, Staff Report No. EPW-25-016
Attachments: 1. Attachment 1 - Tetra Tech Memo
TOWNSHIP OF ESQUIMALT STAFF REPORT
MEETING DATE: September 29, 2025 Report No. EPW-25-016

TO: Council
FROM: Joel Clary, Director of Engineering & Public Works
SUBJECT: Integrated Resource Management Update

RECOMMENDATION:

Recommendation
That Council direct staff to not pursue further exploration of Integrated Resource Management (IRM) in the Township and instead support a regional approach to IRM led by the CRD, as described in Staff Report No. EPW-25-016.
Body

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

The purpose of this report is to provide Council with an update on the Township's exploration of biochar testing as part of the Integrated Resource Management (IRM) project and seek direction on whether staff should proceed with testing or stop pursing IRM at this time.

BACKGROUND:

IRM is a process used to maximize resource recovery from waste. The Township has been exploring an IRM approach to managing municipal solid waste (MSW), kitchen scraps, and yard and garden waste using thermal technologies at the Public Works Yard since 2019.

At the September 25, 2023 council meeting, Council approved the following motion:

That Council postpone consideration of this matter pending receipt of a proposal for biochar testing costs and confirmation of availability of funds from the Capital Regional District to undertake this testing.

Further background can be found in the corresponding staff report EPW-23-17 from the same meeting, which includes the 2022 business case by Pivotal IRM Inc. (Pivotal), technical memo summarizing the analysis of the business case by Tetra Tech Canada Inc. (Tetra Tech), and staff concerns with the business case. Since that time, staff have confirmed that $50,000 in funding from the CRD is available to the Township to support the Township's exploration of IRM, including to support biochar testing.

Following confirmation of funding from the CRD, staff re-engaged with Pivotal and Tetra Tech to determine the feasibility of biochar testing. Pivotal con...

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