Hypocrisy: BC Minister of Environment George Heyman's About-Face on Biosolids Risk

In April 2011, George Heyman, then the Executive Director of the Sierra Club BC, wrote a letter voicing his strong opposition to the land application of biosolid waste in the CRD, specifically calling on the CRD’s “responsibility to protect the region’s farmland, natural environment and public health”.

Just a few years later, George Heyman in his current capacity as Minister of the Environment BC, is now in support of the land application of biosolid waste and supports the CRD’s proposal to spread 700 tonnes per year of biosolid waste on the land surrounding Hartland landfill, claiming in his response letters to concerned residents and at least one concerned CRD Director that the land application of biosolid waste is to be considered ‘beneficial use’.

Citizens are Very Concerned

Regional residents, hikers, mountain bikers and farmers are very concerned with the CRD’s proposal to apply 700 tonnes of dried biosolid waste, known to contain persistent contaminants and toxins, to the forested areas surrounding Hartland landfill (near Gowlland Tod Park - Mount Work and Durrance Lake being popular fishing, swimming and recreation areas.

Regional resident Dan Klimke, in a letter to the Victoria Times Colonist, states:

“Hypocrisy abounds in Minister's bio-solid directive to CRD.

In a stunning reversal, Minister of Environment George Heyman now fully supports the land application of bio-solids.

The hypocrisy is astounding.”

Mounting evidence that Biosolid Waste contains many contaminants

An abundance of data exists on the toxicity of and the dispersal patterns of dried biosolid waste which can disperse up to 25km from the land application site via water runoff and wind putting workers, residents and farms at risk of contamination.

Heymans’ Sierra Club BC letter (click image to open):

ADD the links to blogs with the data