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on water resource protection measures that fall
outside the City’s jurisdiction.
7. Adapt water resource policies over time to ob-
served and forecast changes to the climate and
hydrology.
WASTE MANAGEMENT AND THE ENVIRON-
MENT
As part of its environmental protection commitment,
the City adopted the anaerobic digester technology
for its secondary sewage treatment decades ago. It
is effective, economically viable and environmentally
friendly. The methane gas produced in the process is
captured and reused for heating the treatment plant.
It promises a greater opportunity of energy reuse as
the digester system expands with future population
growth. Equally important is its future contribution
to the reduction of GHGs and air pollutants: the con-
version of an environmental liability to an energy
positive. It should be noted that this waste challenge
also confronts the agricultural industry where much
animal waste is processed. The Ministry of Agricul-
ture and the ALC have encouraged the industry to
adopt the anaerobic digester technology as part of
the solution to reduce its GHG production and to im-
prove the Lower Mainland’s air quality.
On the solid waste front, the City is fully committed
to managing the community’s waste in an environ-
mentally sustainable and fiscally responsible manner.
The City has developed a wide range of initiatives to
encourage waste reduction and diversion. Along with
other communities in the Fraser Valley Regional Dis-
trict, the City continues to explore new programs,
such as organics diversion, to work toward the long-
term goal of zero waste by reducing the amount of
waste that requires landfilling as much as possible.
In evaluating and implementing responsible waste
management solutions, the City of Chilliwack takes
into account all environmental aspects, including air
quality. It is the City’s view that this holistic approach
is the most effective and acceptable way to manage
solid waste in a populated region with a sensitive air-
shed, such as the Fraser Valley. In 2013/2014 the
City installed a gas extraction system at the landfill to
capture methane, significantly reducing air emissions
and greenhouse gases. In addition, all new curbside
collection vehicles are required to be fueled by com-
pressed natural gas.
While the City plays a key role in developing
and administering solid waste programs, over-
all success in the zero waste challenge relies on
the support and participation of every citizen.
OBJECTIVES
1. Pursue a “zero waste” strategy to minimize solid
waste and maximize reuse and recycling.
2. Encourage agricultural waste management prac-
tices that offer both environmental and econom-
ic benefits.
POLICIES
1. Expand residential waste reduction and recycling
initiatives through available municipal regulatory
tools and public education, and according to a
long term strategy.
2. Develop a management strategy for the Industri-
al, Commercial and Institutional (ICI) and Demo-
lition and Land Clearing (DLC) sectors, emphasiz-
ing waste diversion from the landfill.
3. Work in partnership with the FVRD toward the
Zero Waste target, support the regional Solid
Waste Management Plan, and safeguard the
Fraser Valley’s air quality from polluting waste
disposal practices, including incineration.
4. Support the Ministry of Agriculture, the Agricul-
tural Land Commission and Chilliwack Agricul-
tural Commission in promoting environmentally
friendly waste management and technologies
(such as anaerobic digestor) in farming to reduce
GHG emissions, protect streams and groundwa-
ter from contamination, and reduce odour and
other negative impacts.
Goal 4 - Protect the Environment