The Squamish Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) is considering a proposal to truck liquid waste from the Woodfibre LNG site to the Britannia Beach Wastewater Treatment Plant. SLRD staff has raised concerns about the increase in traffic and has recommended against it, though the staff report doesn’t quantify the possible increase in traffic. The board will discuss the proposal at a meeting tomorrow.
The waste from the WLNG site includes portable washrooms and septic tanks. Currently, the waste is sent to Metro Vancouver, but transporting it to Britannia Beach would mean barging it to Gibsons, ferrying it to Horseshoe Bay, and trucking it down Highway 99. SLRD staff have raised concerns about this plan and have recommended against this proposal.
The proposal comes from Thunderbird Ventures Ltd., a company owned by a member of the Squamish Nation that handles liquid waste for the Woodfibre LNG project. The waste is taken to Annacis Island, a Metro Vancouver site as well as Victoria. However, the long distances have created logistical challenges and increased the operation’s carbon footprint. Thunderbird is seeking a closer disposal site, with waste management needed until late 2026.
The Britannia Beach and Furry Creek wastewater plants have been identified as potential options. The Britannia Beach facility can handle up to 1,430 cubic meters of wastewater per day but treats only about 30 cubic meters daily. However, processing the extra waste would require more staff time for monitoring, sludge removal, and disposal, potentially adding more to SLRD costs.
Another proposal for Britannia Beach comes from the Eagle Mountain site at Railyards. It has portable washrooms and septic tanks, and the waste is trucked through Squamish and Highway 99 to Metro Vancouver. The staff report notes that sending this waste to Britannia Beach could reduce transportation distances and lower the project’s carbon footprint.
Local bylaws must be changed if the SLRD Board decides to move forward. However, amending the bylaws and getting provincial approval could take until June 2025.
