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Hundreds of new complaints filed against Delta organics facility

In addition to Delta organics, the GFL facility also receives material from the cities of Vancouver, Burnaby and Richmond.
GFL composting in East Ladner
Prior to the completion of facility upgrades last year, East Ladner residents had filed hundreds of complaints with Metro Vancouver against the odour produced by the 72nd Street GFL facility. Most complaints involved health issues, the negative impact on quality of life and their property values.

The City of Delta wants Metro Vancouver to ensure a controversial organic waste recycling facility in East Ladner is abiding by the rules.

In a letter this week to regional district board chair Sav Dhaliwal, Mayor George Harvie requested a compliance audit of the GFL Environmental organics facility on 72nd Street, saying the purpose of the audit would be to ensure GFL is complying with the terms of the Composting Facility Licence issued under the Solid Waste and Recyclable Material Regulatory Bylaw.

Despite upgrades including an enclosure of much of the facility, there were over 200 resident complaints this June and July, said Harvie, noting the GFL facility was identified as the source of the odour.

Harvie said the facility is licensed by Metro Vancouver to receive up to 150,000 tonnes per year of material and the suspected source of the odours is material that is being managed outside of the fully-enclosed system.

“We would like to know whether the types and quantity of material being received by GFL complies with the terms of this license given the volume of material being stored outside of the buildings which we believe is contributing to the odours observed by our residents,” Harvie wrote.

He also asked that Metro makes the issue a priority, saying “it is critical to Delta residents, and the region, that the GFL facility is operated in a manner that does not negatively affect its neighbours.”

Delta council earlier this year endorsed an application by the operation to amend its regional composting license so that it is consistent with the new fully-enclosed composting facility and associated processes.

The amendment does not change the types or quantity of material allowed to be processed.

The composting license does not authorize or regulate the emission of odourous air contaminants from the facility as that aspect of the operation is addressed within an air quality permit.