While Castlegar’s yard waste facility will remain open, the city won’t be producing compost with that material for the time being.
Council voted 5-1 last week to keep the facility going after curbside composting begins this summer despite a recommendation from city staff to close it.
However, municipal services manager Chris Hallam told council that subsequent to that decision, he realized the site is subject to regulations adopted in 2022 requiring an environmental management plan and capital improvements that would be expected to cost a few thousand dollars.
As a result, council took another look at an option previously presented, which would see yard waste continue to be received at the site, but chipped and taken to the regional landfill at Ootischenia where it would in turn be taken to the new compost facility outside of Salmo.
Hallam said that would not require the extra expenditures proposed in the first option. Councillor Brian Bogle said he liked that option, as it required fewer staff and equipment hours. Councillor Cherryl MacLeod agreed, but said she wanted to ensure that with the earlier decision it is revisited after the curbside program has been in place for a year.
However, councillor Sue Heaton-Sherstobitoff, who previously spoke in favour of closing the site, said she was not in favour of the option because it would add to the city’s greenhouse gas emissions by having someone drive the material to the landfill.
She also said that since council’s initial decision, five people have told her they don’t want to pay for a duplicate system. However, councillor Darcy Bell said the people he has spoken to have raised no objections about paying for both.
The motion passed with only Heaton-Sherstobitoff opposed.
A key difference under this option is that the city will no longer be producing its own compost for residents and city projects, but mayor Maria McFaddin explained there is a large stockpile to keep them going for several years, and this decision does not prevent them from making more if needed.
