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Bailey Sanitary Landfill Extension
CITY THINKING AHEAD ABOUT WASTE MANAGEMENT
The City of Chilliwack has been independently and proactively managing its own waste disposal requirements for years. Chilliwack also has one of the highest recycling success rates in the province – diverting tonnes of material from landfills each year.
“By operating our own landfill, we have greater control over disposal rates and capacity than communities relying on landfills owned and operated by other agencies,” said Mayor Clint Hames. Abbotsford, for example, ships its garbage to Cache Creek, along with waste from the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD). The Cache Creek facility is slated to close in 2008 and alternate plans are still tentative.
Still, the Bailey Sanitary Landfill handles approximately 35,000 tonnes of solid waste per year and in just 12 short years, that landfill is expected to reach capacity. To avoid the kind of disposal challenges being faced by the GVRD and many other regions, the City is taking action now to establish a long-term waste disposal solution for the community.
Early last year, the City engaged a consulting firm to evaluate options for future waste disposal. The firm conducted a review of the landfill and assessed alternate disposal options, including:
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transporting waste to a regional disposal site in southern BC;
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constructing a new waste-to-energy facility; and
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extending the Bailey Sanitary Landfill.
To complement the disposal options, centralized composting was identified as a way of reducing the amount of waste requiring disposal.
The study, which considered environmental, social and economic costs and benefits, identified optimizing the waste disposal capacity of the Bailey Sanitary Landfill as the preferred solution. The concept involves an extension of the landfill footprint of 3.5 hectares to the north of the existing waste disposal footprint. This extension would increase the functional life of the landfill by an additional 14 years.
The extension to the Bailey Sanitary Landfill is being proposed for inclusion in a new Operational Certificate being prepared by the Provincial Ministry of Environment. Created under the 2004 Environmental Management Act (EMA), the new Operational Certificate will replace the original 1974 Operating Permit and will cover issues dealing with environmental considerations and the potential affect of landfill operations on the public.
Because the City has already been exceeding the requirements of the existing Permit, little change is anticipated to the operations and management of the landfill under the new Operational Certificate. The landfill extension will not require an increase in tipping fees or taxes.
Aside from being included in the new Operational Certificate, the extension of the Bailey Landfill will also need to be included in the Fraser Valley Regional District’s Solid Waste Management Plan, which is currently under review.
The draft Operational Certificate is expected to be released by the Ministry of Environment for public comment in the near future. At that time, the public will be welcome to comment on the draft document. Watch for a notice in local newspapers for details.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
BACKGROUND
- What is the issue?
The issue is how to proactively and responsibly address future waste disposal needs for the City of Chilliwack. The community currently generates approximately 35,000 tonnes of solid waste per year, which is transported to the Bailey Sanitary Landfill. Located on Matheson Road off of Bailey Road, the Bailey Sanitary Landfill services the City of Chilliwack, District of Kent, Village of Harrison Hot Springs, and Electoral Areas "D" & "E" of the Fraser Valley Regional District (Popkum, Bridal Falls, Chilliwack River Valley, Columbia Valley and Cultus Lake).
Studies of predicted population growth, together with a correlating increase in waste production, indicate that the Bailey Sanitary Landfill will reach capacity by 2019.
Early in 2006, the City engaged a consulting firm to evaluate options for future waste disposal. The firm conducted a review of the Bailey Sanitary Landfill, in addition to an assessment of alternate disposal options. The study, which considered environmental, social and economic costs and benefits, identified optimizing the waste disposal capacity of the Bailey Sanitary Landfill as the preferred solution.
- What alternatives were investigated?
The consultants also evaluated exporting waste to a regional landfill in southern BC and utilizing a waste-to-energy facility, as well as the combination of a waste disposal facility and a program of centralized composting. Centralized composting is an option that may be used to reduce the amount of waste needing to be landfilled; however, it is not a stand-alone solution – some form of waste disposal is still required.
- How will the waste disposal capacity of the landfill be optimized?
The concept developed by the consultants involves an increase in the landfill footprint of 3.5 hectares to the north of the existing waste disposal footprint. This lateral extension would provide an additional 1,085,000 m3 of space, which translates into ~14 years of additional landfill life, meaning that the site would be functional until approximately 2034. This estimate is based on population projections and current disposal rates.
A site map showing the lateral extension is shown on the next page.
- How do we compare with our neighbouring municipalities in dealing with waste disposal?
The City of Chilliwack has been independently and proactively managing its own waste disposal requirements for years. Not only do we closely monitor and manage our own disposal system, but we also boast one of the highest recycling success rates in the province, diverting tonnes of material from the landfill each year. The City will continue to implement and expand sustainable waste reduction programs.
Our closest comparable neighbour, Abbotsford, ships its garbage to Cache Creek along with waste from the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD). The Cache Creek facility is slated to close in 2008 and alternate plans are still tentative. By operating its own landfill, the City has greater control over disposal rates and capacity than communities relying on landfills owned and operated by other agencies.
PROCESS
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Is the City working with any other agencies on this issue?
Yes. Two regulatory documents require updating to accommodate this solution:
• The existing permit from the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) will be replaced by a new Operational Certificate (OC).
• The Fraser Valley Regional District solid waste management plan (SWMP) will need to be updated to reflect changes to the Bailey Sanitary Landfill.
In addition, the land will need to be excluded from the Agricultural Land Reserve. As such, approval from the Land Commission will be required.
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What exactly is an Operational Certificate? Why don’t we have one already?
The City of Chilliwack currently has a Permit to operate the Bailey Sanitary Landfill. In 2004, the Province of British Columbia brought a new Environmental Management Act (EMA) into force. Under this new Act, the Province has the authority to replace permits for solid waste landfills with new OC’s. The OC’s address the environmental protection aspects of disposal facilities, recovery facilities accepting unsorted municipal solid waste and in some cases, transfer stations. An OC outlines the factors that determine environmental impact and the impact of operations on the public. It cannot be issued until both the Ministry of Environment and the regional district (in our case, the Fraser Valley Regional District) endorse the plan for the site.
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What is the process for approval of the Bailey Sanitary Landfill extension?
The extension will be included in the new OC issued by the Province and will also need to be reflected in the updated FVRD Solid Waste Management Plan. For the OC, comments on the preliminary draft will be sought specifically from Environment Canada, FVRD, and First Nations (Tzeachten). Once the draft is finalized, there will be a public notification period. An ad will be placed in the local paper, and the City may also choose to stage an open house, if there is sufficient public interest. The public comment period will last for 14 days. MOE will then review comments received and take them into consideration when finalizing the OC.
Updating the FVRD Solid Waste Management Plan will be a separate process, driven by the FVRD. The Bailey Landfill extension will be just one part of many changes to the Plan. There will be a public notification process for the Plan revisions.
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Is there a special process to involve the immediate neighbours of the site, including the Tzeachten band?
Tzeachten will be provided with a copy of the preliminary draft OC for comment. Adjacent property owners will also be given an opportunity to comment, as part of the public notification process.
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When and how will the public be able to give their views?
The public will be asked to send written comments to MOE, with a copy to the City. Details will be provided in the newspaper notice.
IMPLEMENTATION
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When would the extension happen?
Timing of the extension would depend on funding and approval from the Ministry of Environment, Fraser Valley Regional District and Land Commission.
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How will the land be prepared to receive waste?
A low-permeability synthetic liner would be placed over the existing landfill slope and on the base of the new landfill area. This will ensure minimal incremental impacts to the surrounding environment, including any leacheate (contaminated water) infiltration into the groundwater table.
Ditches divert the surface rainwater around the site. If any water does seep in to the waste to form leachate, pumps located at the base of the landfill are there to collect it. A network of wells may also be installed, along with a vacuum pump to collect landfill gas (mainly comprised of carbon dioxide and methane), which would then be burnt off at the flare station, thereby significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. When a portion of the landfill is full, that area is covered with a metre of soil; a layer of topsoil is also added to support and encourage vegetation growth. Groundwater and surface water monitoring programs are in place at the landfill.
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Will there be more noise, more traffic, more odour?
Because there are no plans to expand the customer base for the Bailey Sanitary Landfill (i.e. accept waste from new areas), noise and traffic are not expected to change substantially. The level of noise and traffic currently experienced at the site would continue until site closure.
By installing a landfill gas collection system, odour generation at the site can be minimized.
- How will operations/management of the landfill change, if at all?
No substantial changes to the operations and management of the landfill are expected under the new Operational Certificate. The City has already been exceeding the requirements of the existing MOE Permit, and as such little change is anticipated.
IMPACT
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Will my taxes go up as a result?
No. Landfill operating and capital costs are funded from landfill revenues, through a user-pay system.
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Will the fees for disposal change?
Landfill extension will not require an increase in tipping fees. By maintaining control over the disposal of the community’s waste, the City will be in the best position to manage future costs. However, other factors beyond the City’s control (i.e. gypsum recycling fees) may necessitate a fee increase.
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As a close neighbour of the facility, will my property value go down as a result?
There are already a substantial number of properties in relative close proximity to the Bailey Sanitary Landfill, and current landfill operations are not having any noticeable negative effect on the value of these properties. Since the landfill will continue to be well-managed, it is not anticipated that adjacent property values will be affected.
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Will we see the waste disposal operation from the road?
While the disposal operation will be visible from some vantage points, the implementation and maintenance of a treed visual screen will restrict visibility.
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Will there be pollution seeping into the earth?
No. The installation of a new plastic liner will actually reduce potential pollution at the site.
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Will trees be removed to accommodate the extension?
Yes, some trees will need to be removed. The City plans on undertaking an extensive planting program at the landfill site, which will result in many more trees being planted than the amount removed.
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Will there still be the same residential waste off-load area for the public to use?
Yes, the residential off-load area, recycling area and scalehouse are not expected to change.
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Will the list of items that can be brought to the landfill change?
The list of items accepted for disposal is not anticipated to change as a result of the extension. From time to time, the list does change; for example, a material may be banned from the landfill when a new recycling option becomes available. There are also emergency situations when materials not normally accepted may be taken.
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Will the extended landfill accept material from other areas not currently serviced by the landfill?
The Bailey Sanitary Landfill services the City of Chilliwack, District of Kent, Village of Harrison Hot Springs, and Electoral Areas "D" & "E" of the Fraser Valley Regional District (Popkum, Bridal Falls, Chilliwack River Valley, Columbia Valley and Cultus Lake). There are no plans to take waste from other areas. Any expansion to the service area would first have to be approved under the Fraser Valley Regional District Solid Waste Management Plan.
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How long will the extended landfill serve the needs of the community? Then what?
The extended Bailey Sanitary Landfill is scheduled to close in 2034. Approximately 10 years prior to closing the Bailey Sanitary Landfill, the City will undertake a further evaluation of future waste disposal options. Future disposal will depend on the outcome of that assessment.
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Ultimately, what will happen to the landfill site?
Once it has reached final capacity, the landfill will be capped and landscaped. The City will carry out post-closure monitoring for 25 years following closure, and maintenance will be undertaken as necessary. Monitoring activities will be paid out of a reserve fund established during the landfill’s operating years. No plans have been made for final use of the site.
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