Merritt demonstrators fight biosolids, arguing sewage sludge unsafe

KAMLOOPS – Groups against the dumping of treated human waste near Merritt are taking their case to the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention, underway in Vancouver.

First Nations and members of Friends of the Nicola Valley are demonstrating outside the convention, hoping to convince delegates that dumping the biosolid material is unsafe.

In April, four First Nations chiefs and a representative of a fifth chief occupied Premier Christy Clark's constituency office in West Kelowna over the spread of biosolids on private and public lands in the Nicola Valley.

The area receives biosolids from the Regional District of Central Okanagan.

BioCentral, the company contracted to spread the biosolids, has said the waste is used around the world to rejuvenate soil.

Delegates with the Thompson-Nicola Regional District have filed a motion at the convention, demanding the province end the "laundering" of biosolids on Interior lands.