Part of the solution to Metro Vancouver’s growing pile of garbage could be found in a composting plant proposed for Maple Ridge’s Albion industrial area.

Cascade Renewable Carbon Corp. of Surrey is applying for a licence to operate such a plant at 23402 Fisherman Rd. The sign is already on the lot and legal advertising is in process.

According to the notice provided by Metro Vancouver, Cascade Renewable Carbon will operate a commercial composting facility that would take yard waste, fruit and vegetables as well as wood waste. Up to 30,000 tonnes a year of bio-organics would be processed with the maximum daily limit set at 3,000 tonnes. The plant is expected to open early next year.

The company’s website says the process involves sorting organic material, grinding it up and putting it in sealed, aerated containers where temperatures hit 50 C.

The computer-controlled method kills pathogens and ensures quality control while the sealed process also eliminates odours as well as bird and rodent problems, the company says.

The process is called NaturTech In-Vessel Composting System, in use in several locations in the U.S. The end result is a soil-enhancement product that can replace fertilizer and can be sold in gardening stores.

Mayor Ernie Daykin favours composting to reduce the garbage load – as long as the technology doesn’t stink.

A test facility in Langley for another type of technology for instance, produced virtually odorless soil, he pointed out. But he’s not familiar with the technology being proposed for the Albion operation.

“If we can get organic waste out of the waste stream, that is a good thing.”

It also would be good if the odour can be controlled.

“Technology is a question.”

The application was advertised last week and people who object have 30 days to respond.

Operating hours for the plant would be between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday to Saturday.

One NaturTech system in operation in the U.S. is at the naval base on Whidbey Is. in Washington state – deemed the U.S. Composting Council facility of the year in 2005.

Another system in New Mexico processes animal, manure, organics and sewage solids.

However, the Albion operation would only handle vegetative matter.

The location on Fisherman Road, is already zoned industrial so rezoning and a public hearing isn’t required. However, the company still needs a development permit and a watercourse development and has to ensure the site meets flood plain requirements. Those applications are expected to get to council by late this year.

Layout and design of the site has already been completed.

Wilbert Yang, senior project engineer with Metro Vancouver, said the company bid to become the regional government’s domestic compost operator when Metro Vancouver issued a request for proposals earlier this year.

But the company wasn’t selected, Yang said. However, the company still feels it can operate a commercial plant, he said.

That leaves Metro Vancouver still talking with its cities and districts to find another site in the eastern part of greater Vancouver for its domestic composting program.

Metro Vancouver wants to expand domestic composting, to further reduce the amount of garbage being hauled to the Cache Creek dump.

A plant already operates in Richmond, Fraser Richmond Soil and Fibre using a “cover-aerated static pile” process. Another possible site by another proponent near Golden Ears Way in Maple Ridge has also been withdrawn.

Cascade Renewable Carbon didn’t want to comment until permitting was completed.