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Proposed Compost Plant
Map - proposed compost facility
Cascade Renewable Carbon Corp. has submitted development and building permit applications to open a composting facility at 880 Lougheed Hwy., a 3.75-acre property accessed from Lougheed Highway at the new Sherling Avenue intersection.

The City understands that CRCC already operates several similar facilities, at which green waste is sealed into shipping containers for composting over several weeks. City officials have viewed one of these facilities recently and observed it had minimum impact while processing compost for the benefit of the local area.

Report to Council - Dec. 12

Please be advised at the next regular public meeting on Monday, December 12th, Council will consider a report regarding the compost facility proposed by Cascade Carbon Renewable Corporation (CRCC).

The meeting will start at 7 p.m. in City Council Chambers at 2580 Shaughnessy Street.

The purpose of the staff report will be to obtain a resolution from Council responding to the solid waste licence application submitted to Metro Vancouver by CRCC. An opportunity for the public to provide feedback or ask questions about the report will be provided at the meeting. 

The report will also be posted on the Council agenda page on Monday at www.portcoquitlam.ca/council. Information about Metro Vancouver’s compost facility licence application process is available at: http://www.metrovancouver.org/services/permits.



Approval process

The site’s heavy industrial zoning and industrial designation in the Official Community Plan allow for the proposed use. A Development Permit has been issued to regulate the design of the facility, as discussed publicly at a City’s Smart Growth Committee meeting. The project was also recently described in a local newspaper.

The project is now making its way through the City’s building permit process. In addition, a compost facility requires a permit to operate from Metro Vancouver.

The regional government’s stringent criteria for all waste-processing facilities incorporates the requirements of the federal and provincial governments, including criteria for the management of on-site safety, surface run-offs, leachates, odour, rodents and other issues. The applicant would be required to provide contingency plans to address complaints related to breaching this criteria. This detailed assessment has yet to be completed.

A resolution from Council will be necessary prior to Metro Vancouver's consideration of the permit application. Prior to adopting a resolution on the proposed facility, the City commits to holding a public information meeting to ensure residents will have an opportunity to obtain the appropriate information and provide their comments.

Green waste processing in Port Coquitlam

The City’s green waste is currently taken by truck to a transfer station near the Pitt River Bridge – in the vicinity of the proposed plant – and is then shipped more than 30 kilometres away to Richmond.

Shipping costs make up about one-quarter of the disposal costs. While a local compost facility could bring significant savings to Port Coquitlam taxpayers and reduce environmental impacts, the City plans to issue a Request for Proposals to seek out potential green waste service providers and determine if it may reduce costs while providing service in a more sustainable and environmentally responsible way.
Additional Information