In April 2025, the Province of BC approved in principle the CRD’s preferred option for thermal conversion of biosolids into a biochar and non-fossil fuel gas. Until the CRD received this approval, it was reluctant to proceed with adjudicating the Request for Proposals (RFP) for constructing and operating a thermal conversion facility.
Members of the Peninsular Biosolids Coalition met with CRD staff this week and were advised that the CRD Board will meet on June 11 to decide on an applicant to develop the facility. There is no operating facility anywhere in North America at present, so Board members have asked staff to undertake a thorough due diligence assessment of the new technology before making a final decision. Staff felt that there is more clarity on the technical and financial aspects of the RFP and are now in a stronger position to recommend to the Board on thermal conversion technology.
In addition, the cost for managing biosolids at a land disposal site near Nanaimo has increased requiring the Board to find additional funds. So, the Board wishes to understand fully the financial implications for constructing and operating of a thermal conversion facility before there is a decision.
A private company which specializes in thermal conversion technology advises there are hundreds of such facilities across Europe and Asia treating everything from general refuse to company specific waste streams. But none of these facilities has treated municipal waste streams such as biosolids.