Composting is a vital process that turns organic waste into valuable, nutrient-rich soil amenders, contributing significantly to environmental sustainability. However, in British Columbia, compelling evidence from the Ministry of Environment’s 2023 Composting Industry Audit reveals serious systemic weaknesses in oversight, inspection frequency, and regulatory compliance that threaten both environmental integrity and public confidence.

The audit found that only 27 out of 103 authorized composting facilities—just 26%—were inspected across the entire province. This low inspection rate highlights a significant gap in regulatory oversight, leaving the majority of facilities operating without recent verification of their environmental practices.

Even more concerning, among the facilities that were inspected, only 20% were found to be fully compliant, clearly demonstrating widespread non-compliance across the sector. This means that 4 out of 5 facilities failed to meet at least some regulatory requirements, underscoring a systemic issue rather than isolated incidents.

Persistent issues such as leachate mismanagement, operations on permeable surfaces, and inadequate environmental controls continue to pose risks to land and water systems.  Air emissions and odours from poorly managed composting facilities can release contaminants that negatively impact air quality, posing risks to respiratory health and overall community well-being.

Additionally, the report emphasizes that many facilities had not been inspected for at least five years, reinforcing concerns that monitoring is both infrequent and insufficient to ensure accountability.

These findings demonstrate that the current system does not provide the level of oversight necessary to ensure environmental protection. The issue is not merely procedural—it reflects a structural failure that allows non-compliance to persist across the majority of inspected facilities.

To combat this issue, we urgently call upon the government of British Columbia to pass comprehensive legislation that will:

• Enhance oversight of all composting facilities across BC — Increase inspection frequency to ensure all facilities are regularly evaluated and held accountable.
• Strengthen enforcement capacity — Equip inspectors with the authority and resources needed to address the widespread non-compliance identified in the audit, ensuring that regulations are meaningfully enforced, and results are made public on an annual basis.
• Require permit holders to receive formal education in composting science and environmental protection — Address recurring operational issues (such as improper leachate management and failure to meet process standards) by ensuring qualified oversight at every facility.

The evidence is clear: low inspection coverage combined with low compliance rates creates unacceptable environmental risk. Strengthening regulation, enforcement, and professional standards is essential not only to protect ecosystems and public health, but also to restore trust in composting as a cornerstone of sustainable waste management.

By signing this petition, you are supporting a cleaner, healthier, and more accountable future for composting in British Columbia.