Summerland Landfill Compost

Sale of Compost at Landfill

Bulk sale of compost is available at the Landfill from 9:00am to 12:00pm (noon), Monday through Friday (except statutory holidays) for larger residential truck or trailer loads only.  No self-loading of compost at this time. Customers must stay within their vehicles while compost being loaded. Vehicles bringing materials to the landfill must drop off their materials first and re-weight before purchasing compost. 

Only compost derived from wastewater sludge is available at this time. Compost created from food scraps will be available later this fall.  

Summerland Compost Facility and Landfill Master Plan

The District of Summerland has completed a number of updates to the Summerland Landfill including: 

 - The construction of a new compost site capable of separately composting Summerland’s residential food waste and wastewater treatment sludge

 - An updated Design, Operations and Closure Plan for the Summerland Landfill.

Summerland Landfill Compost Site

A new updated compost site has been constructed at the Summerland Landfill. The facility has two sides allowing for the composting of residential food waste and yard waste separately from wastewater treatment sludge and wood waste. The Summerland Landfill has been operating a turned windrow compost site that mixed materials and could not accept residential food waste without creating strong odours. The new compost site will bring us into compliance with Provincial regulations.

 - The new compost site will allow for food waste to be collected from residential homes. This has the potential to divert hundreds of tonnes of compostable materials from the garbage each year while creating valuable compost.

 - Two types of compost will be created. One will be made of food waste and yard waste. The other will be made of wastewater treatment sludge and wood waste. Both will be Class A compost meeting all Provincial requirements.

 - The new facility uses fans and a biocover to significantly reduce odours and speed up the compost process. This will allow for residential food waste to be composted.

 - New infrastructure will allow for water storage and pumping that will make watering the compost much easier.

 - All receiving areas and compost surfaces are lined with asphalt and connect to a new leachate containment pond that dries any liquids created.

 - Compost curing will take place in lined areas of the landfill where all liquids can be collected.

Any person who may be adversely affected by the proposed facility and wishes to provide relevant information may send written comments to the District of Summerland and the Regional Environmental Protection Director at 102 Industrial Place, Penticton B.C., V2A 7C8. Please note Pre-Authorization 111806 and Tracking Number 427075 in the submission. The identity of any respondents and the submission will become part of the public record.  Please see Environmental Protection Notice linked here.

Common Questions and Answer on the Summerland Landfill Compost Site

No. Only materials from the District of Summerland that are already coming to the Landfill will be received. No other communities are bringing materials to the Summerland Landfill Compost Site.

What if there is a smell at my property?

The District of Summerland already tracks all odour concerns raised by the public. The District will be required to mitigate any issues, such as odour, caused by the compost site. Odour complaints can be sent to the District Public Works and Infrastructure Office at works@summerland.ca or call 250-494-0431.

Summerland Landfill

The Summerland Landfill has fully updated its Design, Operations and Closure Plan (DOCP).  The DOCP provides the necessary direction for the District to properly manage all environmental, safety and financial concerns. Key components include:

• Expanded environmental monitoring including two new monitoring wells and one background well designed to bring water to site. The water will be used for composting, dust control and fire fighting.
• Progressive closure of the landfill to reduce liquids building up in unlined areas.
• New stormwater management infrastructure to protect the landfill from storms.
• All new garbage areas will be fully lined to collect all liquids for evaporation in a new leachate collection pond.
• Updated landfill gas assessments.
• The active life of the landfill has been extended to the year 2129.

For More Information

Please contact Summerland Works and Infrastructure for further information.