I have been watching all the letters and stories on the composting facility we have here in Central Saanich. I am still so disappointed there are so many complaints. Perhaps people such as Michele Bond should be helping to create a solution to that issue, rather than wasting everyone’s time, money and energy on complaining constantly. I have tried to find information on this Martindale/Hunt Valley Protection Association and have found nothing. Are there meetings people can attend?
I was very pleased to read the editorial last Friday about compost. We need to take responsibility for our waste and not ship it off for somebody else to deal with. No matter who you are, you contribute in some way to the waste they are trying to recycle.
There has to be a solution that will work for everyone, but as this is a fairly new facility, a little patience is necessary and a little community support is key. I understand there is an odour but perhaps they would have more time to solve this issue if they could spend less time dealing with the constant complaints.
To my knowledge they have gone above and beyond all regulations up until now and continue to try to improve. How is anybody supposed to learn like this?
If you want to protect the valleys and the farmland, then we must replenish the soil, as intensive agriculture depletes it. This practice puts organic matter back into the land we are trying to save and continue to see as farmland. Should we ship our waste somewhere up island or further, just to ship it back to do this, driving costs up and in the end, forcing our precious farms to shut down?
I encourage, no, I urge people to contact the CRD (250-360-3000) and Central Saanich (250-652-4444) and tell them you would like to show your support in this facility. I have. The people I spoke to were very friendly and very pleased to take my supportive call and it took less than three minutes each. Don’t let a few people spoil our land because they don’t have the patience to help a new facility improve.
We are so close to doing the right thing but it is always easier to complain than it is to support.
Christine Duffield
Central Saanich