Salt Spring Island OCP Bylaw No. 434 - Waste Management Objectives and Policies

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Salt Spring Island Local Trust Committee 86 Otober 2020 Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 434 – Volume 1 (Consolidated)

C.4 WASTE MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES

Background Note: Map 7 shows the island's existing waste management facilities.

C.4.1 General Waste Management Objectives

C.4.1.1 OBJECTIVES

C.4.1.1.1 To accommodate the facilities and services that provide Salt Spring Island with necessary collection, processing, treatment, transfer, separation, recycling, reuse or disposal of domestic solid and liquid wastes generated by the island’s residents and visitors, while minimizing the impacts on neighbourhoods, community health and the island’s environment, and, where solid waste is transported off the island for disposal, on the intended receiving environment as well.

C.4.1.1.2 To support the reduction, diversion, reuse and recycling of domestic waste materials generated by the island on the island.

C.4.1.1.3 To support strategies that promote more integrated management of liquid and solid waste disposal initiatives and to develop land use policies that support these initiatives where possible.

C.4.2 Liquid Waste Management

C.4.2.1 OBJECTIVES

C.4.2.1.1 To accommodate facilities and services necessary to ensure the island’s liquid waste, whether from residential or business on-site, community or private sewer system, is collected and treated on island, while minimizing the impact of the facilities or services on neighbourhoods, community health and the environment.

C.4.2.1.2 To ensure that zoning changes within the boundaries of any community sewer area do not result in such a level of development that sewer collection, treatment or disposal capacity of the area is or will be exceeded when the area is fully developed.

C.4.2.1.3 To encourage the operators of liquid waste systems to consider and implement strategies which support beneficial reuse of waste energy and waste products, including creating and making available reclaimed water from wastewater treatment facilities and compost from sewage and septage sludge.

C.4.2.2 POLICIES - COMMUNITY LIQUID WASTE PROCESSING AND SEWER SERVICE AREAS

C.4.2.2.1 The Local Trust Committee continues to support the on-island processing and treatment of liquid waste (septic tank septage and sludge from sewage treatment plants as approved by residents in the referendum of 1993), at the CRD facility located near Burgoyne Bay, such as the following:

a. Receipt of liquid waste materials pumped from septic tanks and other waste holding tanks, waste sewage sludge from wastewater treatment plants, and receiving of screenings and other waste removed from sanitary sewer systems for purposes of further processing. b. Receipt and interim storage of green wood necessary for successful composting of waste solids. c. Processing of materials received at the site to dewater or concentrate solids, treat and dispose of liquid after dewatering, compost solids with green wood amendment, or batch products for further use or transport. d. Storage and marketing of product materials.

C.4.2.2.2 Should new areas be required for a wastewater treatment plant or associated works, the Local Trust Committee could support a site selection process that considers the following:

Salt Spring Island Local Trust Committee 87 Otober 2020 Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 434 – Volume 1 (Consolidated)

a. Performance criteria for technology proposed, especially as it relates to odour production and noise. b. Ability to provide appropriate buffers and visual screening. c. Siting outside a community water system supply watershed or community well capture zone or environmentally sensitive area. d. Suitable access for service vehicles e. Proximity to existing sewer infrastructure, markets for reclaimed water, waste heat recovery or other resource recovery. f. Site not located on good agricultural soils. g. Minimal impact on the shoreline. h. Other benefits to the community. i. Site would be above areas likely to flood due to sea level rise.

C.4.2.2.3 Map 8 shows the area of properties included in the Ganges Sewer Local Service Area. When making decisions about including properties outside that area (i.e. Map 8), the Ganges Sewer Local Service Committee and the CRD Board could consider supporting inclusion if a study is undertaken to identify the capacity required to serve anticipated development potential allowed under current zoning, and if the proposed inclusion would satisfy one of the following:

a. The parcel has a failed on-site treatment system and repair or replacement to protect the environment from sewage discharge is not considered possible. b. The inclusion of the parcel will result in the construction of a density of affordable housing that would not be possible without community sewer servicing. c. The inclusion of the parcel is needed to support development of a community facility or will generate a significant community benefit. d. The parcel can be provided with a service connection without the need to extend the sewer system.

C.4.2.2.4 When the Local Trust Committee receives rezoning applications that apply to land within the Ganges Sewer Local Service Area or the Maliview Estates Sewer Local Service Area, it shall refer the application to the Capital Regional District. The CRD will advise of any requirements or conditions of servicing applicable at the time.

C.4.2.2.5 The Local Trust Committee encourages the Capital Regional District to continue to maintain the highest feasible quality of effluent and to produce and make available reclaimed water for non- domestic use within the Ganges Core to offset demand for potable water from the community water system.

C.4.2.2.6 When the Local Trust Committee receives rezoning applications that apply to land served by the Channel Ridge sewage treatment system, the Local Trust Committee will consider the capacity of the system and the anticipated impacts on the local environment.

C.4.2.2.7 The Local Trust Committee will continue to work with the Capital Regional District to develop better estimates of projected sewage levels within Sewer Specified Areas.

C.4.2.2.8 The Local Trust Committee should not make zoning changes that would result in a type of waste entering either an on-site disposal system or a community sewer system that could degrade downstream treatment processes. The Local Trust Committee acknowledges that the quality of end products such as compost produced from liquid waste treatment or processing depends on the nature of the materials that are disposed of and enter the waste stream. Rezoning applications for non-residential uses should be referred to the Capital Regional District for advice on this topic.

C.4.2.3 POLICIES - LANDS OUTSIDE SEWER SPECIFIED SERVICE AREAS

C.4.2.3.1 When the Local Trust Committee receives rezoning applications for land without community sewer service, it should ask for evidence that the expected amount of sewage can be treated on site and effluent disposed of on-site without it reaching the surface of the land, discharging into a body of water, or contaminating a supply of potable water.

Salt Spring Island Local Trust Committee 88 Otober 2020 Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 434 – Volume 1 (Consolidated)

Others are encouraged to help achieve the objectives of this Section as follows:

C.4.2.3.2 The Vancouver Island Health Authority is urged to re-examine its policies for on-site sewage disposal and to ensure that septic absorption fields are located in a way that will protect potable water supplies from contamination and eutrophication.

C.4.2.3.3 The Vancouver Island Health Authority is encouraged to consider approving alternative methods of liquid waste disposal, such as composting toilets, constructed wetlands and reuse of grey water.

C.4.2.3.4 The Capital Regional District is urged to investigate the need for local service areas for sewers and sewage treatment in Fulford Village and Vesuvius and where needed, to establish appropriate facilities. However, the Local Trust Committee should first examine and amend the zoning in those areas to ensure that sewer service does not result in further development. If the Local Trust Committee receives an application to rezone or subdivide land within these areas, the Local Trust Committee will encourage the applicant to investigate, with Capital Regional District, a community sewer project. The CRD is also encouraged to cooperate with the B.C. Ferry Services Inc. in the Fulford Village area to develop a shared sewer system.

Background Note: Existing zoning allows for a higher level of development if a community sewer service is in place.

C.4.2.3.5 The responsible agencies are asked to help in finding ways to collect and treat liquid wastes from recreational vehicles and boat pumpouts.

C.4.2.3.6 The Local Trust Committee urges the Capital Regional District and the Vancouver Island Health Authority to develop a program to monitor, detect and correct failing septic systems, particularly within environmentally sensitive areas such as community water system supply watersheds and community well capture zones.

C.4.2.3.7 B.C. Ferry Services Inc. is encouraged to provide sanidump facilities at ferry terminals on Vancouver Island and the Mainland. It is asked to advise its passengers with recreational vehicles about the lack of sanidumps on Salt Spring Island.

C.4.2.3.8 The Salt Spring Island Local Trust Committee should work with other agencies to develop and implement an Integrated Storm Water Management Plan, with particular reference to Ganges and Fulford Villages.

C.4.2.4 POLICIES - MARINAS, BOATS AND HARBOURS

C.4.2.4.1 The Local Trust Committee should not make zoning changes for the development or expansion of boat moorage facilities if the rezoning application does not include a program to manage boat sewage.

Others are encouraged to help achieve the objectives of this Section as follows:

C.4.2.4.2 The Local Trust Committee supports the implementation of federal regulations limiting dumping of sewage from vessel holding tanks. In particular, Ganges and Fulford Harbours should be designated as areas where pollution from vessel sewage should be prevented C.4.2.4.3 Marina operators in Ganges and Fulford Harbours are asked to encourage good harbour stewardship with their customers. They are asked to discourage the flushing of boat holding tanks in confined harbour areas.

C.4.3 Solid Waste Management

C.4.3.1 OBJECTIVES

Salt Spring Island Local Trust Committee 89 Otober 2020 Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 434 – Volume 1 (Consolidated)

C.4.3.1.1 To protect the island's environment from contamination by solid wastes. To accommodate the facilities and services necessary to provide solid waste collection, receiving, sorting, reduction, reuse, recycling, marketing and /or transport of waste for disposal to the Regional Solid Waste Landfill.

C.4.3.1.2 To support the reduction, recycling and reuse of solid waste materials.

C.4.3.2 POLICIES

C.4.3.2.1 The Local Trust Committee supports the transfer of solid wastes to the Hartland Road Landfill instead of the creation of a landfill site on Salt Spring Island.

C.4.3.2.2 The Local Trust Committee supports the development of a site for waste management that could accommodate solid waste transfer, separation and processing of green wood waste that can be used as compost amendment, and separation and processing of other commodities that can be used beneficially on the island, and receipt of other special waste for disposal to the regional landfill or other off-island waste processing facility. Any new site would:

a. be located in an area of low or very low density residential use (less than one house per 2 ha). b. be screened by vegetation to limit the effects of its appearance, noise and smell. c. be located outside a community water system supply watershed or community well capture zone, or an environmentally sensitive area. d. have an access route that does not significantly affect a residential area. e. not be located on good agricultural soils.

C.4.3.2.3 The Local Trust Committee should retain existing zoning for publicly or privately-operated solid waste transfer sites. The Local Trust Committee may also consider issuing Temporary Commercial and Industrial Use Permits for solid waste transfer stations in appropriate locations.

C.4.3.2.4 The Local Trust Committee should not make zoning changes to allow the on-island disposal of hazardous or industrial wastes.

C.4.3.2.5 The Local Trust Committee should not make zoning changes that would result in land uses that could be expected to generate a disproportionate amount of solid waste.

Others are encouraged to help achieve the objectives of this Section as follows:

C.4.3.2.6 The Capital Regional District is urged to continue the development of Waste Management Plans for Salt Spring Island, and is specifically asked to address the disposal of hazardous and hydrocarbon wastes.