Proposal for Property at 5050 Gladwin Rd for Use as a Composting Operation and Compost Utilization Demonstration Farm

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1 Proposal for Property at 5050 Gladwin Rd for Use as a Composting Operation and Compost Utilization Demonstration Farm Historical Land Use and Non-Farm Use Application This property is owned by Jayendee Farms, and has been operated as a hog farm since The manure was utilized on the land owned by the farm as well as surrounding lands. The crops grown at the farm were primarily forage grass and corn, until 1994, when hybrid poplars were planted. Jayendee Farms applied for and received funding from the Pork Industry Development Council, the BC Agricultural Council, the Federal Greenhouse Gas Program, and Transform Compost Systems to pilot an alternate strategy for processing hog manure. Because the process required other off-farm agricultural wastes, a non-farm use exclusion for this composting was required.

2 The non-farm use exclusion was applied for on May 9, 2006 and received file number A06-10 from the City of Abbotsford. The application was forwarded to the Agricultural Land Commission on November 9, 2006, and received ALC file # MM Approval for this project was received from the ALC on March 23, A two year temporary use application from the City of Abbotsford was received in January 2008, as the work on site represented new technology. The composting technology for processing hog manure was constructed and tested. The technology was also tested with other manures, including dairy cattle manure, spent mushroom compost, and various blends of manures. Through this experimental process, Transform Compost Systems was able to demonstrate that very high quality fertilizer and compost products can be produced without odor concerns. Many of the products that have been produced in this small production facility are being utilized by landscapers and homeowners throughout the Fraser Valley. The temporary use permit limited the amount of much needed site improvements to accommodate efficient further management and processing of agricultural waste. Jayendee Farms has also been working with Transform Plant Products on worm composting of agricultural waste. Transform previously had permission on another property in Abbotsford for worm composting, but all activities have now been consolidated on the property at 5050 Gladwin Rd. Present Proposal We propose to expand the current composting activities to include a compost facility capable of processing up to 40,000 tonnes per year under the Organic Matter Recycling Regulation. This facility will be able to receive and properly process agricultural waste, yard waste and some food waste. It will allow continued production of value-added soil and fertilizer products from agricultural waste, many of which are replacing chemical fertilizers and pesticides on lawns and properties throughout the lower mainland of BC. Part of this proposal includes an organic demonstration area. An increasing number of people are understanding the importance of organic matter in soil, and what compost can do for healthy food production. Part of waste diversion, whether it is agricultural waste or foodwaste, is demonstrating the benefits of compost. We have been growing pumpkins for the past few years as part of the Compost Council of Canada pumpkin growing contest, and have had pumpkins over 400 lb with only compost application. In light of the fact that this property: 1. the hog industry is no longer viable in Canada, 2. has not had viable crop production for more than 20 years, 3. is on a rural street with many other commercial activities, the owners have demonstrated the ability and the desire to utilize this property as a commercial composting facility for agricultural waste, yardwaste and a limited amount of foodwaste. In addition to this, the farm will develop an organic production demonstration area. A significant investment has been made in infrastructure improvements on the farm to date.

3 Organic production area Worm Production Receiving building Worm Production Worm Production and storage Hog Production Bagging Building Screening building Covered composting windrows Lockblock and greenhouse covers Wetland for water management Organic production area Cured Product Storage Area Covered Windrows 2 m high berm Facilities Proposed In addition to the buildings already on site, Jayendee Farms proposes to construct one 60 ft wide by 150 ft long screening and storage building, one 60 ft by 60 ft receiving building, and 10 gutter connected 30 ft by 200 ft shelters for covered windrow composting. The buildings and covered windrows will be located on a 450 by 450 ft asphalt surface behind the hog barns. There will also be another 120 ft wide by 400 ft asphalt pad on the south side of the hog barns to accommodate piles of finishing material. All of the composting material and stored material will be under cover, either the covered windrow shelters or Compostex fabric, but the large asphalt surface area needs adequate drainage and water retention. The area of the asphalt pads on the site may be up to 280,000 sq ft or up to 25,000 sq meters. Assuming that up to 12 (30 cm) of rain may fall over the course of several

4 weeks during the winter months, we are planning a stormwater retention pond of 150 m long by 50 m wide to be located on the east side of the property. Part of this area will become a constructed wetland to ensure that only clean water exits from property. The water and odor management plans will be developed in accordance with the requirements of the Organic Matter Recycling Regulation. Odor control will be achieved through proper management of the composting process and by using biofilters. A biofilter was constructed as part of the 30 ft wide by 250 ft compost facility, but was not needed yet. The application of this facility under the Organic Matter Recycling Regulation will be for a 40,000 tonne per year composting facility. This will include agricultural waste including horse manure, poultry manure, and spent mushroom compost. This will also include non agricultural wastes such as yardwaste and food processing waste. A small amount of post consumer foodwaste may be accepted. All of the proposed developed area shown in grey will occur by placing a geomembrane barrier on the soil before adding fill and asphalt. The additional buildings are constructed using concrete blocks, and can therefore be removed if required. A 2 m high berm is proposed around the perimeter of the main composting area as a potential flood control measure. Trees and shrubs will also be maintained around the perimeter of the property to maintain a buffer and a positive visual appeal. In addition to the facilities proposed for composting, there are two 50 m by 50 m organic demonstration areas. This proposal also includes access for retail and wholesale sale of compost, as well as yardwaste drop off. Some of the yardwaste may come from the neighboring Valley Pulp and Sawdust Carriers, who are now also providing this service. Truck and Vehicle Traffic Some days may include 10 to 20 vehicles per day either picking up material or dropping off material. Many of these will be pick-up trucks and smaller delivery trucks. On some days, there may be delivery of up to 20 large walking floor trailers of product being delivered, and up to five large trucks leaving with product. We expect that vehicle traffic will be similar or less than some of the businesses within 1 km of this property. What are the Current Regulatory Requirements? This type of operation requires registration with the BC Ministry of the Environment through the Organic Matter Recycling Regulation. Although most of the waste is agricultural waste, it will be brought onto the farm, composted and then sold off the farm. This Agricultural Waste Control Regulation (B.C. Reg. 131/92) no longer applied in this case. Part 5 of the Regulation states: Application and Composting of Agricultural Waste:

5 Composting 15 Agricultural waste may be composted on a farm if (a) the agricultural waste being composted consists only of agricultural waste (i) produced on that farm, or (ii) produced elsewhere but being composted for use on that farm only, (b) the composting site is located at least 15 m from a watercourse and 30 m from any source of water used for domestic purposes, and (c) the agricultural waste is composted in a manner that does not cause pollution. Under the AGRICULTURAL LAND RESERVE USE, SUBDIVISION AND PROCEDURE REGULATION (revised 2004) Proc_Reg.htm#sec3 Permitted uses for land in an agricultural land reserve: 3. (1). The following uses are permitted in an agricultural land reserve unless otherwise prohibited by a local government bylaw, or for lands located in an agricultural land reserve that are treaty settlement lands, by a law of the applicable first nation government: (p) the production, storage and application of Class A compost in compliance with the Organic Matter Recycling Regulation (BC Reg. 18/2002), if at least 50% of the compost measured by volume is used on the farm. Because this operation is not planning to utilize at least 50% of the compost on the farm, a nonfarm use exclusion is required. It also means that this operation must comply with the Organic Matter Recycling Regulation. Although agricultural waste is normally exempt from the Organic Matter Recycling Regulation, it is not in this case because it is not in accordance with Part 5 of the Regulation as per below: General exemptions 3 (1) In this section: "agricultural waste composting" means the composting of agricultural waste in accordance with Part 5 of the Code made under the Agricultural Waste Control Regulation, B.C. Reg. 131/92 ;

6 How will the Environment Be Protected? The Organic Matter Recycling Regulation requires a production plan, an odor management plan, a water management plan, an operations plan, and a closure plan. All of these must be in place before the operation begins. All activities will be occurring on an impervious surface or under covers. Benefits to Agriculture The benefit of this composting facility for agriculture will be that it will be utilizing agricultural wastes and creating valuable and marketable products for agriculture and horticulture. The current operation is one of only a few examples of where farm waste is successfully moved from the farm to benefit agriculture on other properties in a sustainable manner. The products currently marketed from the site include products produced from agricultural waste, including lawn compost, garden compost, worm castings, and organic fertilizer. Several of the products are approved for organic use by the Organic Materials Review Institute based in Oregon, US. The organic growing area is an important demonstration area, to allow the community and the potential market to understand the benefit of composting, and the effect of adding quality compost to soil. We will also be encouraging school groups and tours to see the composting process, including the worm composting process, as well as the organic fruit and vegetable production. We have been producing soil for the BC Ministry of Agriculture s Ag in the Classroom program for the last 3 years. Benefits to Abbotsford The benefits for the City of Abbotsford include the following: 1. a legally approved property for receiving and processing organic waste 2. support in promoting organic waste diversion from landfill 3. demonstration of the value of compost produced from organic waste 4. lawn and garden products that support the City of Abbotsford s cosmetic use of pesticide decisions