Victoria, BC– The public is invited to provide feedback as the Capital Regional District (CRD) prepares to take an important step in the treatment of wastewater and processing of biosolids, introducing high-heat technology to help reduce greenhouse gases, capture carbon, and improve soil nutrients.
Innovative carbonisation technology is being explored as an addition to the Residuals Treatment Facility at Hartland Landfill to transform biosolids (the leftover solids from wastewater treatment) into biochar, a charcoal-like product that would cut residual volumes in half, destroy contaminants of concern, and lock in carbon.
This strategic investment in wastewater treatment would maximize resource recovery from regional wastewater and be the first of its kind in Canada. The project is in the planning stage and still requires design, permitting, financing, and ongoing engagement.
Your voice matters and there are many ways to ensure it is heard. There are a variety of upcoming opportunities for the community to learn more about this environmentally beneficial process and provide feedback to inform further planning including:
- Open house and public tour of the Residuals Treatment Facility: Saturday, February 28, 2026 10am - 2pm. Pre-register online for public tours.
- Participate in the online survey until Thursday, March 5, 2026.
In 2024, the CRD Board responded to community input and agreed to explore thermal technologies as a long-term approach for managing biosolids in ways beneficial to the community and the environment. Carbonisation is a high-heat process which converts biosolids into biochar, a stable, carbon-rich product offering a variety of potential benefits across the construction, industrial, agriculture, and forestry sectors.
The project will follow the required provincial and local regulatory approvals for authorization of air emissions under the Environmental Management Act (EMA). The CRD has invited local First Nations to review the project and provide any comments or concerns and collaborate to develop mitigation measures for identified impacts.
Learn more and share your feedback at GetInvolved.crd.bc.ca/Biochar. All feedback during this phase of engagement will be summarized in a “What We Heard” summary report and presented to the CRD Board in Spring 2026.
The CRD delivers regional, sub-regional and local services to 13 municipalities and three electoral areas on southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. Governed by a 24-member Board of Directors, the CRD works collaboratively with First Nations and government partners to enable sustainable growth, foster community well-being, and develop cost-effective infrastructure while continuing to provide core services to residents throughout the region. Visit us online at www.crd.ca.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Andy Orr, Senior Manager
CRD Corporate Communications & Engagement
Tel: 250.360.3229
Cell: 250.216.5492
Backgrounder: Converting Biosolids to Biochar
- Wastewater treatment was introduced in the core area of the region in 2020. Since then, the CRD has been pursuing sustainable, cost-effective options to use biosolids (the leftover solids from wastewater treatment) for community benefit.
- Every year, the CRD produces about 3,500 tonnes of Class A biosolids which meet or exceed provincial standards.
- Since 2011, the CRD Board has prohibited the land application of biosolids within the CRD boundaries in response to public concerns regarding contaminants in the material.
- Rising annual costs for transporting and disposing of biosolids under the current management plan are creating increasing challenges. In 2025, costs exceeded $3 million for transporting and benefically using biosolids.
- Biosolids are currently transported to other communities where they are used to reclaim quarry land, as fuel in cement manufacturing, and as a fertilizer for landscape plant growers.
- In 2024, the CRD decided to explore thermal technologies [including carbonisation] as a long-term approach to converting biosolids to biochar - a stable, carbon-rich product offering a variety of environmental benefits and uses in sectors such as construction, industrial, agriculture, and forestry.
- Carbonisation heats biosolids to more than 500 degrees in a low oxygen environment, cutting volumes in half and destroying contaminants of concern, such as “forever chemicals” and microplastics. The resulting biochar is a stable, charcoal-like product that locks-in carbon and can be used in a variety of beneficial ways.
- Through carbonisation, an estimated 2,500 tonnes of carbon would be sequestered annually, equal to removing roughly 600 gas-powered cars from the road.
- Any gases released during heating are captured and reused to fuel the carbonisation process. Any remaining gases are treated through air management systems.
- Protecting air quality is integral to the project which has safeguards, controls and monitoring incorporated at every stage.
- Site‑specific modelling and physical testing will inform the provincial permit application, with ongoing monitoring required if the project is approved.
- No untreated gases or odours can escape the fully enclosed system during operation.
- In the City of Logan, Australia, where a similar system is in operation, air discharges from the carbonisation process consist primarily of carbon dioxide and water vapour.
- The new technology would not increase odour, noise, or trucking activity at the facility. In fact, carbonisation is expected to reduce the volume of residuals by half, meaning fewer trucks entering and exiting the Hartland facility.
- At this early stage in planning, the CRD has not determined how the biochar would eventually be used. Further public engagement will occur, once biochar is being produced and tested.
- This technology would be a first for Canada but similar systems designed to treat biosolids from wastewater are now operating in Australia, Asia, Europe, and the United States.
- A similar system in Australia has proven to destroy 95% of synthetic chemicals [such as pharmaceuticals] and 82% of microplastics, demonstrating the effectiveness of this technology.
- Pyrocal, the technology vendor behind the Australian system, has been selected as the preferred proponent to integrate this technology into the Residuals Treatment Facility at Hartland Landfill. Further design work and contract negotiations are still required before a contract is awarded and further capital investment decisions are made.
- The preferred location for the new carbonisation equipment is the northwest corner of the existing Residuals Treatment Facility at the Hartland Landfill, occupying less than 2% of the 2.7-hectare site footprint. The site will be finalized based on further planning and design.
- Final costs will be determined through detailed design and contract negotiations but it is estimated the project will require $10 million in capital equipment plus related investments such as site preparation and emission monitoring. Later in 2026, staff will bring forward a borrowing bylaw to seek electoral approval from Core Area residents for wastewater infrastructure. The borrowing bylaw will include $2 million for planning and design of carbonisation equipment. The design phase will help inform air management systems and corresponding provincial permitting, as well as further cost estimates ahead of a future capital investment decision.
- The process will move forward in stages, with clear decision points for the CRD Board and opportunities for input from First Nations and the public.
