CITY OF CHILLIWACK 2025 Annual Report 24 25 2025 Annual Report CITY OF CHILLIWACK STRATEGIC GOAL #3: ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP Encourage waste diversion and a "zero waste" philosophy, reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gases while protecting waterways, riparian zones and airsheds. HOW WE WILL GET THERE WHAT WE ACHIEVED IN 2025 PROTECT WATERWAYS AND RIPARIAN AREAS Enhance fish habitat and maintain Riparian Areas Protection Regulation standards. Collaborated with First Nations, local businesses, schools, and community volunteers to remove invasive species and replant native trees and shrubs along creeks, including 550 new trees and shrubs along the Hope Slough. Installed a new mechanical aerator at Bell Slough to improve fish habitat and water quality. Continued with mitigative measures to preserve and enhance fish habitats during open channel drainage maintenance. Continued to support semi-annual Adopt-a-River events and other river cleanups undertaken by volunteers. Monitored and maintained new restoration and enhancement projects along sections of Atchelitz Creek, Bell Slough, Camp Slough, Hope Slough, and Chilliwack River. Adopted new City Policy G-37 Watercourse Daylighting to protect natural waterways and wildlife habitat. In support of the City’s initiative to improve the quality of treated effluent from the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) to the Fraser River, the city: • Issued seven new Waste Discharge Permits and renewed one existing permit to enhance wastewater source control. • Continued to pilot scale rotary drum thickener to reduce excess solids from the secondary treatment process, as part of the Sludge Thickener Pilot Project. • Completed 25 site inspections at industrial facilities to support the implementations of responsible wastewater management. • Issued 428 educational letters to restaurants and commercial kitchens on responsible wastewater management, with a focus on fats, oils, and grease. • Commenced construction to upgrade the biological treatment process at the WWTP. • Commenced the procurement process for Digester #4 construction to enhance treatment process reliability, improve operational flexibility, and support increased biogas production and utilization at the WWTP. STRATEGIC GOAL #3 CONTINUED: ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP Encourage waste diversion and a "zero waste" philosophy, reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gases while protecting waterways, riparian zones and airsheds. HOW WE WILL GET THERE WHAT WE ACHIEVED IN 2025 WASTE DIVERSION Achieve a 75% curbside program waste diversion rate by 2025, promote a "zero waste" philosophy and maximize recycling initiatives. Achieved curbside diversion rate of 66%. Undertook zero waste initiatives including curbside recycling and compostable waste programs, Household Hazardous Waste Day, CityWide Garage Sales, Large Item Pick Ups, City-Wide Free Swap Event, and Shred-A-Thon events. Completed improvements to the Bailey Landfill Recycling Depot, including the installation of compactors for cardboard and mixed recyclables to add capacity at the site. Assisted Fraser Valley Regional District in meeting region-wide separation requirements for recycling and compostable materials through source separation requirements for all properties in Chilliwack and enforcement of surcharges on loads of garbage containing more than 5% compostable waste or recyclables at the Bailey Landfill. Reduced waste by introducing an online and bookmarking option for the community Leisure Guide. Continued promoting Waste Diversion Kits for event hosts, to provide three-stream collection bins for garbage, recycling, and compost. Provided presentations to over 790 students in local elementary schools to promote waste reduction and stewardship as part of the Environmental Educational Campaign. Launched a new Curbside Recycling Star Program to incentivize proper recycling to reduce contamination. Partnered with Fraser Valley Regional District and Reclaim Plastics to pilot a new Child Car Seat Recycling Program for a two-year period. AIR QUALITY Protect the airshed, measure greenhouse gas emissions and implement energy efficiency opportunities where feasible. Continued following the provincial Agricultural Environmental Management Code of Practice. Continued implementation of the Corporate and Community Climate Action Plans. Continued to utilize methane from the Wastewater Treatment Plant to run biogas boiler to heat anaerobic digesters. Extracted landfill gas at the Bailey Landfill through horizontal gas collectors and vertical wells. Completed the Radon Test Kit Challenge by providing residents with 100 free test kits, testing eight City-owned buildings, and testing 51 City-owned homes in partnership with Take Action on Radon and Fraser Valley Regional District. Continued working with the Ministry of Environment in response to air quality complaints. Enforced the Open Burning Bylaw and promoted alternatives to burning to reduce smoke.
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