Dear Editor:

Having been one of several Nicola Valley representatives working on this important provincial issue I was dismayed to read that we are somehow “losing something,” if this plant locates elsewhere (RE: Merritt may lose biosolids processing plant to Hope, May 3).  The evolution of the management of biosolids is easily misunderstood. Please note the following points:

1. Pyrolysis is not “incineration”… it is not a burning of biosolids. Pyrolysis cooks biosolids thermally, usually using indirect steam, in a contained process that is not exposed to the atmosphere. There is no chimney, nothing is “burned or incinerated,” and everything is captured and processed. 

2. The first facility built anywhere in B.C. would be a step in the right direction and Merritt loses nothing by not being first.  Merritt may one day benefit from a facility but it has to be built with the cultural, community, environmental and financial interests of the valley front and center. This must not be rushed into and has been carefully consider by local government leaders. It would be best located away from populated areas, with hydro grid access, highway access and must be zoned correctly.

3.  Applying sewer sludge/biosolids to our land and exposing our food chain to toxins is irresponsible and that practice must and will end. Provincial government, Ministry of Environment, and Ministry of Agriculture regulations currently support the lowest cost highest harm option to manage these toxins and promote applying it to forests and fields, unless these regulations change this irresponsible practice will continue.

We will continue to explore the opportunities that biosolids processing offers but never lose sight of the fact that raising the alarm and pushing this issue to the highest level of awareness in order to force change has been our goal, A local pyrolysis plant may still be in our future and if it is it will be done with our valley’s best interests at heart and in a way that meets our environmental, business and community concerns.

Randy Murray

Nicola Valley