All compost being sent to landfill on building safety woes

The aeration hall at Edmonton’s signature composting facility has been shut down because of a “significant and imminent risk” to its structural integrity.

A report heading to utility committee Tuesday says the issues were found recently through a routine assessment of the building. But the facility had to be completely shut down “to protect the safety of employees and contractors.”

It’s unknown how much this will cost utility ratepayers.

Waste services branch manager Mike Labrecque said the issue was discovered three weeks ago and now all of Edmonton’s compost material is being sent to the landfill.

“We’re working to understand what our options are,” he said, hoping

We’re working to understand what our options are. It’s important (to shut the facility) from a safety perspective.

to have more information soon. “It’s important (to shut the facility down) from a safety perspective.”

The report said officials are looking at ways to reinforce the building and restart operations.

Coun. Ben Henderson, chair of the utility committee, said he was told the roof of the building deteriorated rapidly between the prior inspection and this one. Engineers were worried about the coming snow load on the building, but it’s not yet clear if this kind of rapid deterioration is normal for a composting facility.

The building is part of a waste management facility that was considered leading edge when it opened in the 1980s. The city is also building an anaerobic digester to add capacity for processing organics. That’s scheduled to open next June or July.

The issue comes as councillors on the utility committee prepare to pass the 2018 garbage collection rates. They’ll be increasing by $1.03 a month, which is lower than the original projected increase of $1.85 a month and puts the monthly fee at $45.93 for a single-family house.

Overall, that’s a good news story, said Henderson. Waste officials have found ways to trim the budget, lowering the projected fee increase while also moving toward a more sustainable debt-to-asset ratio.

The utility is also undergoing a full program review, trying to find a way to finally reach the 90 per cent waste diversion target its had on the books for years. Today, at least 45 per cent of the waste is still going to a landfill.

City officials said they’ve done an exhaustive review of industry best practices across Canada. They’ll bring in a series of policy changes in late November.