The engineered landfill at the Comox Valley Waste Management Centre
The need for a new engineered landfill was identified as part of the 2012 Comox Strathcona solid waste management plan. The new landfill meets or exceeds all current provincial requirements for landfill design, construction, and operation. It includes a multilayer engineered liner system designed to collect leachate – formed when rainwater mixes with solid waste – to keep the groundwater safe.
The leachate is transferred to a lined pond before being processed through the state of the art leachate treatment facility, which removes contaminants and returns clean water to the environment.
Extending the Life of the Landfill
You can help extend the life our landfill by donating unwanted items, sorting recycling from household garbage, and properly disposing of construction materials and hazardous waste. For more information on what to do with your unwanted items please visit the relevant page below:
- Household Goods
- Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off
- Organic Composting
- Drywall (Gypsum) Diversion
- Wood Waste Diversion
Operating Certificate 5050 Amendment - July 30, 2025
In 2022 the CVRD applied to the Ministry of Environment and Parks for an amendment to the operating certificate (OC) for the landfill operations at the Comox Valley Waste Management Centre in Cumberland. This application was made to support ongoing protection of the environment, efficient operations, and to prepare for future growth. The draft amended OC is in accordance with the approved Comox Valley Regional District Solid Waste Management Plan and proposes:
1. Increase discharge of treated leachate from 250 metres3/day to 275 m3/day.
The leachate treatment plant is capable of treating a higher quantity of leachate per day than currently permitted and can still maintain the regulated effluent quality standards. Winter precipitation events necessitate higher processing flows for part of the year to keep up with the amount of rainfall received. Potential impacts were modelled by a qualified professional and the future downgradient groundwater concentrations estimated by the mass balance model are all less than the applicable standards.
2. Increase the discharge of municipal solid waste to the landfill from 65,000 tonnes/yr to 80,000 t/yr.
The request to increase the allowable disposal limit to 80,000 tonnes is to ensure there is sufficient capacity for future years, in anticipation of population growth, re-development, new construction and home improvements activities within the service area, which includes the Comox Valley and Strathcona Regional Districts.
3. Other administrative changes including legal address, site boundaries, and additional infrastructure and closed works.
These included updates to recognize infrastructure built since the last OC update, property boundary changes and a change in the site address.
For details on the changes requested, and to see a copy of the entire amended OC as drafted, please click the links below:
Environmental Protection Notice, July 2025
Amended Operating Certificate 5050, July 2025
Within 30 days after the date of publication of this notice (July 30, 2025), any person may send comments to the Ministry of Environment and Parks Director, respecting the requirements of the draft amended OC, via email, with the subject line referencing authorization 5050, to: envcia@gov.bc.ca with a copy to the CVRD at: CSWM@comoxvalleyrd.ca
