The Capital Regional District (CRD) did not pass a motion to ban biosolids from farmland after all.
Although they did pass a motion July 13 "ending" use of the material at all CRD facilities and parks, a second part states the CRD "does not support" the application of biosolids on farmland within its boundary, The Citizen has learned.
The final product is contrary to what has been reported in Vancouver Island media which stated biosolids have been "banned." The CRD represents communities in the Victoria area.
CRD director Philippe Lucas, who made the motion, conceded Wednesday the motion lacks the strength an outright ban would have, but added the CRD's power reaches only so far.
"If a farmer was to go up Island and get a source of biosolids they want to use on their land, we literally have no way of policing that or patrolling that," Lucas said. "There is no law to stop it and so under those circumstances, I'm realistic and pragmatic in realizing that there's not much we can do there."
Biosolids are made from the sludge produced at sewage treatment plants and are used as a form of fertilizer. But because they contain heavy metals and pathogens from household cleaners, pharmaceuticals and beauty products, they've drawn criticism.
The City of Prince George produces a class B biosolids at the Lansdowne sewage treatment plant that, under provincial government regulation, is suitable for farmland and tree farms, but continues to raise concern from residents living near the sites where it's to be applied.
Sooke is the only municipality in the CRD that produces biosolids and the community's mayor, Janet Evans, said she was the only director to vote against the motion. It costs Sooke $80,000 a year in tipping fees to deposit the material in the CRD's landfill, according to Evans.
"I want at least to have the opportunity to look at ways that we can utilize it because it's done all over the world," Evans said.
However, Evans maintained the motion won't prevent Sooke from working towards a deal with a business that is proposing to collect organic material and wood waste from restaurants and other businesses, mix it with biosolids produced by the municipality.
Lucas contended the pathogens and heavy metals found in the material could end up in the food chain if applied to farmland where crops for human consumption are grown. Evans, meanwhile, said she sees no reason why it could not be applied to land used for tree farms and forage crops provided the proper safety measures are in place.
"A lot of people put pharmaceuticals into the cattle now," she noted.
Lucas said the CRD's long-term goal is to convert waste into methane energy at its landfill and "ultimately, we won't be landfilling what can be a very effective fossil fuel that we can use to create electricity and energy."
Fraser-Fort George Regional District electoral area A director Bob Headrick, an outspoken opponent of biosolids, has said he's looking into CRD's actions on the issue but doubts a similar motion would pass here because municipal directors would not give it any support.
