The company contracted to compost organic waste collected through the City of Saskatoon Green Bin program will have to find an alternative location for its proposed facility.
Corman Park Council voted at its meeting on Monday, April 24 to deny a discretionary use application by Green Prairie Environmental to expand its existing solid waste disposal facility on Baker Road south of Saskatoon to include a composting operation.
The company planned to process an estimated 20,000 tonnes of organic waste annually at the facility.
About 40 Corman Park ratepayers filled the council chambers gallery at the meeting, with the vast majority opposed to the application.
Duncan McKercher, developer of the nearby Crossmount country residential community, told councillors during a presentation at the meeting that the proposed facility is more suited for an industrial area.
“There will be negative consequences to the surrounding communities for generations to come,” said McKercher. “This densely-populated area of South Corman Park is one of the fastest-growing parts of the RM. Millions of dollars have been invested in developing homes and amenities that promote and preserve country-style living.
“This facility will have a negative economic impact on the RM and its residents,” he added. “In return, the RM gets no benefits.”
McKercher cited a number of concerns including odor, increased heavy truck traffic, and reduced land values. He said while residents are in favour of composting, this facility belongs in an industrial park, not a residential area.
Green Prairie Environmental currently owns and operates a landfill on Baker Road west of Highway 219. The company purchased the landfill from the RM of Corman Park in 2014; prior to that the landfill was owned and operated by the municipality.
In 2019, the company signed an agreement with the City of Saskatoon to compost organic yard and food waste collected by the City of Saskatoon. The city began rolling out its green bins in April, and collection is slated to begin in May.
Green Prairie Environmental President Richard Weldon told the April 24 council meeting that the planned facility meets all provincial environmental regulatory requirements. He added that the processing plant will have “minimal, if any, impact,” and said by diverting organic waste from the landfill, odor issues would be reduced.
Weldon said the composting facility would be environmentally beneficial.
Corman Park Division 1 councillor John Germs asked why, if the agreement between the City of Saskatoon and Green Prairie Environmental was signed back in 2019, the discretionary use application was coming before Corman Park council a few weeks before the Green Bin collection program is slated to begin.
“Why did it take so long?” asked Germs. “It kind of puts the council under the gun to make a decision.”
Weldon explained that the company was under the understanding that it already had approval through its existing landfill operation.
“We had always assumed it was an approved use,” said Weldon, adding that it also took considerable time to get the appropriate environmental permits from the province and design the facility. “We didn’t realize a discretionary use permit was needed,” he said.
Weldon said there has been “misinformation” circulated about the composting facility. The company held an open house and met with residents of the area to explain the facility to them.
“The material is not just sitting on the ground,” he said. “We’re utilizing the best technology available, including bio-filters to ensure clean air.”
Corman Park Division 4 Councillor David Greenwood proposed a motion in favour of granting the discretionary use.
“I believe the company is meeting its responsibility and wants to be a good neighbour,” said Greenwood. “The concerns of residents are abated.”
But Corman Park Reeve was among the majority of councillors who opposed the application.
“The RM is not obliged to take the City of Saskatoon’s waste,” said Harwood. “This is not a good fit. There are other options available to the city. They will have to go with Plan B.”
Germs also voted against the application.
“I’m all for composting, but this area is not suited for this type of facility,” said Germs. “I’ve toured large-scale composting facilities in northern Holland, and they’re very impressive, but the reality is that the odors are very noticeable.”
It is unclear now where the composting facility will be located. One possibility is a parcel of land owned by Loraas Disposal in the RM of Corman Park south of Martensville, near the existing Loraas landfill site. This land was zoned several years ago to accommodate a large-scale composting facility.