Ashcroft Council wasn’t satisfied with Belkorp Environmental Services (BESI) answer to their question about slaughterhouse waste being allowed at the landfill extension, and they plan to tell them that in a letter.
Council asked Belkorp whether it was true that the waste would be allowed in the extension. Slaughterhouse waste has always been excluded from municipal waste in the past, but Belkorp staff indicated last fall that they were working with the Ministry of Environment to accomodate the provincial government which was looking for a way to dispose of it.
“Under the proposed concept,” wrote vice president Russ Black, “animal by-products would be received on-site and digested in a fully contained reactor. Biogas would be captured and utilized and once fully stabilized the treated material would be disposed of in the Exension. All of these activities would be regulated and controlled undera permit issued by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.”
Acceptance of the waste would be included in the Extension’s Operational Certificate, which has not yet been approved. The OC is applied for by Belkorp and the Village of Cache Creek who are partners.
“If this project were to move ahead,” continued Black, “BESI would site the treatment facility within the landfill property for the Extensio whch would serve to diversify the established operations and further enhance both economic and employment opportunities within the communities of Ashcroft and Cache Creek.”
“I read letter several times,” said Coun. Helen Kormendy, noting that the letter began by saying there were no plans to dispose of slaughterhouse waste at the Landfill or the Annex, but later described disposal at the Extention.
“To me, it is the same thing,” she said. “The language is... still a huge concern for me.”
“Hearing it in (The Journal) first is the part that’s sort of troublesome,” said Mayor Andy Anderson.
“We need to let Mr. Black know this is a concern for us,” said Kormendy. “We have to let him know we’re in disagreement. This can get into our water system, and that’s my concern.”