More than 250 residents came out for a spirited town hall meeting Tuesday night at the Sundance to express concerns with the constant odours coming from Enviro Smart Organics Green For Life (GFL) East Ladner composting facility.
The meeting was chaired by resident Dr. Steven Cockroft and facilitated by resident Wendy Betts.
“I think the community had a chance to finally be heard and finally to ask questions,” said Betts. “It was unfortunate that we had to do it on our own. Would Delta be able to gather 250 people? I doubt it.”
Speakers included Ray Robb from Metro Vancouver, Delta South MLA Ian Paton and company officials from GFL.
After months of consultation, Metro Vancouver issued GFL an air quality management permit on Aug. 1 that requires, among other things, that the facility be fully enclosed by March 2020.
An appeal process on the permit is available to both concerned residents and GFL, although time is critical as any appeal must be made before Aug. 30. Betts said the community is now discussing its options.
“The main concerns in this AQP (air quality permit) are the odour distance that will be allowed upon completion of the enclosed facility is one kilometre from the facility boundary,” said Betts. “That still leaves many homes as well as the Sundance remaining in the ‘ground zero’ for stench. That is unacceptable. There is no proof in any of the science that it will be fixed.”
Betts said mental health and stress are also major concerns for residents.
Despite being invited, Fraser Health medical health officer Michael Schwandt was not at Tuesday’s meeting, but in an interview with the Optimist Schwandt said Fraser Health does recognize the residents’ concerns.
“Direct effects on the heart, lungs and brain, for example, we wouldn’t expect to see strong effects, but in terms of the very important effects related to quality of life, potentially mental health related to ongoing exposure to an odour like that – we take that very seriously,” he said.
Schwandt said Fraser Health is reviewing the air quality permit and will share its findings with Metro, Delta and the public.
“We are hoping to have that done by the end of the month. We would comment on what we might see as potential public health enhancements to the permit. Our goal would include ensuring there are no direct health hazards and also really trying to mitigate these indirect health effects,” he said.
Paton assured the community he will continue to press for answers from the minister of agriculture, minister of environment and members of the Agricultural Land Commission as to the compliance of the permitted farm use of the Enviro Smart facility on ALR land.
GFL’s vice president of environmental responsibility and sustainability Jennifer Ahluwalia also spoke to the Optimist prior to the meeting.
“We think getting the permit in hand is a really important step forward for us,” she said. “Right now we are focused on assuring that it is aligned with what we believe is a shared goal by all parties, which is to operate this facility in an environmentally-responsible manner.”
Ahluwalia added that GFL is committed to enclosing the facility.
“That for us is probably a $20 million investment and really reflects our long-term commitment to the community as well as this facility,” she said. “We have already started planning and looking at conceptual drawings. We are committed to being a valued and respected part of the community.”
Betts said she hopes residents can continue a better dialogue directly with GFL.
“We are not going away until we have no more stink in the air and that we are sure the air that we breathe is safe,” she said.
