Dear Editor,
Re: “Folks gagging in Lung Month,” Voices column, Nov. 4.
I read with interest your column in the and would like to add my perspective to the reason why Richmondites are having to endure this terrible smell emanating from Harvest Power.
I don’t expect to get much support for my opinion, as I appear to be the only person who is taking this stand.
I feel the responsibility for the smell is on the City of Richmond and Metro Vancouver for taking on an over-ambitious recycling program that couldn’t be supported by the old and out-dated facility operated by Harvest Power.
In order to successfully support a comprehensive compost recycling program, the region needs a state-of-the-art plant to process all the compost gathered by the municipalities.
A modern plant should have been built first and the recycling program implemented after. Now, we have to wait for a number of years while Harvest Power undergoes a complete retrofit.
During that time, the smell will continue, unless the regional district does its part by taking necessary measures to drastically reduce its recycling program.
I don’t see them doing this, as it would mean that they would have to admit to making a mistake in the first place by not being as informed as they should have been when they gave the initial licence to Harvest Power.
This is embarrassing for the regulators, as they didn’t do their homework and we, as citizens, are suffering the consequences.
Instead, the regional district is posturing. They are happy to have Harvest Power take all the blame, while they do nothing other than appear to be officious and heavy-handed.
Kathleen Beaumont
Volunteer, Harvest Power Community Liaison Committee
