qathet Regional District directors heard a presentation that promoted collection of compostable materials in the southern reaches of the regional district.
At the June 25 committee of the whole meeting, Chester Wilson appeared as a delegation, appealing for a steel container for food waste in Electoral Area C.
Wilson said residents south of town drive a considerable distance if they want to dispose of their compostables at the qRD solid waste facility. He said the same goes for people in Lund.
“I can’t keep compost more than two or three days,” said Wilson.
He said at Black Point, a building was constructed and has a safe barrier to keep bears out.
“It would be a lot easier for everyone if we didn’t have to drive all that way to drop off a couple of little cans,” said Wilson. “We are talking about hundreds of trips. It would probably take 2,000 little cans to fill up a dumpster.
“It isn’t just me. From Myrtle Point to Saltery Bay, it would eliminate a whole lot of traffic and gas.”
Wilson said there is room for a metal container for compostables at Black Point. He said the containers are not a big expense to begin a program.
“What people are doing is dumping in the bush,” said Wilson. “I’ve seen a bear in my yard, nosing around. Rats, bears and raccoons are trying to get the compostables.”
In correspondence to the regional board, Wilson stated that people try to compost in rural areas but it attracts bears. He stated that compostable waste has to be removed almost daily because of the health issues and odours.
“The facility at Willingdon has containers for compost that are made of steel and can be sealed,” stated Wilson. “There have not been any bear issues to date.
“There is another recycle station located in Black Point that is capable of having a fully contained lockup and does not yet have a steel container for food waste. A compost container at this station would eliminate hundreds, if not thousands, of individual trips to the only operating compost facility in the region.”
Wilson stated that he was requesting that regional board directors consider the low cost and high impact solution of locating a compost bin south of town.
At the committee meeting, Wilson said people from Myrtle Point, south, would be inclined to use a station at Black Point.
Electoral Area C director and board chair Clay Brander asked staff if the option proposed by Wilson had been contemplated in the solid waste management plan.
Manage of environmental services Jason Kouwenhoven said he would have to review the solid waste management plan.
City of Powell River director Rob Southcott said his family has been composting for as long as memory serves. He said he would imagine there are people throughout the region who do that as well. He said what he has done is freeze compostables so they don’t emit odours.
“I am totally in support of composting,” said Southcott.
Electoral Area E director Andrew Fall asked Kouwenhoven if Wilson’s request was something that could be looked into.
Kouwenhoven said the question has been posed before and he has been looking into options for compost collection at rural depots. He said he didn’t have information for the committee meeting but he should be sharing it very soon.
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