Long-Term Biosolids Management Strategy

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The public feedback period is now complete.

Thank you to everyone who shared comments on the Capital Regional District’s (CRD’s) draft Long-term Biosolids Management Strategy. The feedback period is now complete.


On June 12, 2024, after reviewing your feedback , the Capital Regional District Board approved the final Long-term Biosolids Management Strategy. This strategy outlines a sustainable approach to managing biosolids produced within the region and consists of a portfolio of options that prioritize advanced thermal processing while also considering out-of-region and in-region contingency options to ensure regulatory compliance and adaptability.


The Long-Term Biosolids Management Strategy is subject to provincial approval as part of the CRD’s commitments under the Core Area Liquid Waste Management Plan. On June 6, the CRD Board received a letter from the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy offering an extension to the June 18 deadline. Because the conditions and timelines presented by the Minister pose a challenge, the Board decided that it was prepared to submit the strategy, along with feedback received, to the province in accordance with the original deadline.

Thank you to everyone who shared comments on the Capital Regional District’s (CRD’s) draft Long-term Biosolids Management Strategy. The feedback period is now complete.


On June 12, 2024, after reviewing your feedback , the Capital Regional District Board approved the final Long-term Biosolids Management Strategy. This strategy outlines a sustainable approach to managing biosolids produced within the region and consists of a portfolio of options that prioritize advanced thermal processing while also considering out-of-region and in-region contingency options to ensure regulatory compliance and adaptability.


The Long-Term Biosolids Management Strategy is subject to provincial approval as part of the CRD’s commitments under the Core Area Liquid Waste Management Plan. On June 6, the CRD Board received a letter from the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy offering an extension to the June 18 deadline. Because the conditions and timelines presented by the Minister pose a challenge, the Board decided that it was prepared to submit the strategy, along with feedback received, to the province in accordance with the original deadline.

The public feedback period is now complete.

  • Tier 1: Advanced thermal option

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    Constitutes the preferred long-term solution and will be pursued concurrently with options in other tiers.

    Current projects include:

    1. Develop a demonstration facility for advanced thermal processing, as planned. Outcomes from the demonstration project will serve as the basis for a scaled, long-term solution.

  • Tier 2: Out-of-region compliance options

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    Constitute measures that the CRD will utilize to ensure regulatory compliance is continuously achieved while the Tier 1 thermal processing option is being implemented and when options in Tier 1 are unable to process the totality of biosolids produced in the region.

    These are (in priority order):

    1. Industrial land reclamation such as mine and quarry sites (acknowledging that some reclaimed sites may eventually have a pasture land end use)
    2. Forest fertilization
    3. Production of biosolids growing medium and/or feedstock in soil production
    4. Partnerships with established biosolids programs
    5. Continue alternative fuel combustion in the cement manufacturing facility in Richmond, BC. Prioritize this option when available.
    6. Explore partnerships with additional industrial partners interested in combustion.

  • Tier 3: In-region contingency options

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    Constitute contingency options to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. The CRD would implement Tier 3 options on a contingency basis, only when options within the Tier 2 portfolio are unavailable, and only after receiving explicit consent from the Board and consulting and engaging with any affected First Nations, should the need for Tier 3 arise.

    These include (in priority order):

    1. Industrial land reclamation such as mine and quarry sites (acknowledging that some reclaimed sites may eventually have a pasture land end use)
    2. Forest fertilization
    3. Maintain the option of biosolids application in engineered cover systems and biocell at Hartland Landfill to act as an emergency support option; subject to space availability and cover needs of the Landfill