Biosolids
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.
City has little say about Blackwell Dairy biosolids
KAMLOOPS – The problems associated with Blackwell Dairy Farm and its use of biosolids are outside of the City of Kamloops’ control, according to a new report. The report, which will be presented to city council Tuesday, Aug. 18, says if the dairy farm is following normal farming practices and using land meant specifically for agriculture,...
Biosolids group to protest against Kamloops dairy farm
KAMLOOPS – The Friends of the Nicola Valley will be in Kamloops today, Aug. 11, to lend their voice to those of Dallas residents upset over a neighbouring biosolid operation. A Dallas group has alleged that black dust coming from the Blackwell Dairy property is a biosolid byproduct, not just sawdust as city staff believe. According...
Suzuki Foundation finds heavy metals in biosolids sent to Merritt compost plant
MERRITT – Opponents of the shipment of biosolids to the Nicola Valley near Merritt have gained some ammunition, thanks to a recent lab analysis from a well-known environmental group.
Wine and fruit waste prompts Kelowna treatment facility upgrade
KELOWNA - The city is looking at upgrading the Brandt’s Creek Trade Waste Treatment facility in a bid to reduce the amount of biosolids it produces and the cost of hauling them away. Staff are recommending the city pay $450,000 for a centrifuge to be installed at the facility located in the North End industrial...
Biosolids protest comes to Kamloops
KAMLOOPS – Protestors shut down Victoria Street in downtown Kamloops today as they rallied against a biosolids operation near Merritt. Members of Friends of the Nicola Valley picked the location for the protest, June 19, because Health Minister Terry Lake and MLA Jackie Tegart were meeting at the Thompson-Nicola Regional District office nearby. The protestors are...
Biosolids protest expected to disrupt downtown traffic in Kamloops
KAMLOOPS - The Nicola Valley biosolids protest is coming to Kamloops this morning, and RCMP are warning there may be traffic disruptions. Friends of the Nicola Valley are planning a protest today, June 19, at 11:30 a.m. at the corner of Victoria Street and Fifth Avenue. It is expected the protest will last several hours...
TNRD looks at options for regulating biosolids
KAMLOOPS - In response to recent concerns around biosolids the regional district is considering changes to regulations around commercial and agriculture composting. The Thompson-Nicola Regional District is reviewing a zoning bylaw to regulate commercial composting and to limit the scale of agricultural composting. In a media release, the district says if the amendment is supported...
No end in sight for sewage sludge sit-in at premier’s constituency office
WEST KELOWNA - The chiefs of the five native bands occupying Christy Clark’s office in West Kelowna say only an agreement with the province will end their protest. “We’re prepared to stay as long as it takes to come to some kind of the agreement with the province,” Chief Aaron Sam of the Upper Nicola...
So what are you supposed to do with 100 tonnes of sewage sludge? The regional district just found out
KELOWNA - If the Central Okanagan Regional District has temporarily solved its sewage sludge disposal problem by trucking it to a site near Clinton, it’s partially because they can’t look to their nearest neighbours for help - they’re full. “We just don’t have the capacity, so we can’t help,” said Kevin Van Vliet, manager of...
Occupation of premier’s officer ends, but situation remains
WEST KELOWNA - The occupation of Christy Clark's West Kelowna constituency offices ended today but the situation that caused it — where the Westside dumps its sewage—could continue for years. The chiefs of five native bands, and some non-native protesters from the Lower Nicola valley swarmed Clark's constituency office in downtown Westbank for five days,...