Lillooet Landfill & Recycling Centre welcomes BC-based Core Environmental as new operator as of September 1, 2024

SLRD extends thank you to current operator, set to retire after decades of service

SLRD Electoral Area B –The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) is pleased to announce Core Environmental will take over the operations, maintenance and management of the Lillooet Landfill & Recycling Centre starting September 1, 2024.

This transition comes after Lillooet-based operator MOHA Contracting notified the SLRD of their plans to retire from the contract after successfully operating the busy facility since 1997.

The Lillooet Landfill & Recycling Centre serves residents and businesses of SLRD Electoral Areas A and B, the District of Lillooet, and surrounding First Nations communities. The SLRD initiated a comprehensive procurement process including community engagement to find a new contractor in April 2023 after MOHA Contracting gave their notice.

Through a detailed engagement process, including a community survey and in-person pop-up events at the Lillooet Farmers Market and Lillooet Landfill & Recycling Centre in the summer of 2023, the SLRD established insights into the community's current and future needs. This information guided the 2024 procurement process, which resulted in the contract being awarded to Core Environmental, a well-established, experienced operator with strong community connections in the areas it serves throughout B.C.

"We would like to extend our gratitude to MOHA Contracting for their dedicated service and successful operation of the Lillooet Landfill & Recycling Centre," said Electoral Area B Director, Vivian Birch-Jones. "We are confident Core Environmental will provide the high-quality service our community expects including the return of the Reuse Shed and dedicated staffing for the recycling area to divert more waste from being landfilled.”

“On behalf of the District of Lillooet, I join Director Birch-Jones and the SLRD in thanking MOHA Contracting for their work in running the Lillooet Landfill & Recycling Centre,” added District of Lillooet Mayor, and SLRD Director, Laurie Hopfl. “This is a vital service for our communities and like everyone who uses the facility regularly, I am grateful to see the ongoing commitment to excellence, and the potential for future enhancements to the service.”

Core Environmental is a leader in solid waste management in British Columbia. It brings an experienced leadership team that values efficiency and builds strong relationships within the communities in which they operate. Formal education for their team includes certifications with the Solid Waste Association of North America, cross-training opportunities and Core's proprietary training in the best practices for landfill operations. Core Environmental is well set up to meet the evolving demands of the Lillooet Landfill & Recycling Centre while addressing the SLRD's ongoing commitment to effective waste management practices.

"We are thrilled to begin work at the Lillooet Landfill & Recycling Centre on September 1 with no disruption to service as we transition the operations from MOHA Contracting to our team," said Trevor Curtis, president of Core Environmental. "At Core, we know people are at the heart of every success, and we provide formal training for the team so we can provide the highest standard of landfill operations.”

The SLRD's updated Solid Waste and Resource Management Plan (SWRMP) was adopted by the SLRD Board in 2016 and approved by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy (MOECCS) in 2019. A five-year review was completed in 2023. The SWRMP outlines a comprehensive waste reduction, reuse, recycling, recovery, and residual management strategy. It provides clear directives for regional districts, residents, and businesses to achieve collective waste management goals while safeguarding public health and the environment.

Since adopting the original SWRMP, the SLRD has made significant strides in waste diversion and management, including operational enhancement at transfer stations and landfills, which must be meticulously managed under strict regulatory frameworks to ensure compliance with MOECCS guidelines and operational permits.

-30-

About the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District 

Located in southwestern BC, the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) is a local government federation consisting of four member municipalities (the District of Lillooet, the District of Squamish, the Village of Pemberton and the Resort Municipality of Whistler) and four unincorporated, rural electoral areas (A, B, C, and D). Headquartered in Pemberton, which is the approximate geographic centre of the region, the SLRD delivers a wide range of local, regional and sub-regional services to approximately 50,496 residents (2021 Census).

The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District is found within the traditional territories of several First Nations, including the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), St'át'imc and Líl’wat. Small parts of the SLRD also overlap with the traditional territories of the Stó:lō, Tsleil-Waututh, Nlaka'pamux, Tŝilhqot’in, and Secwepemc Nations. While the SLRD does not provide direct services to the residents of the First Nations communities located within the region, the organization is committed to enhancing relations with the Indigenous communities and First Nations within whose territories the SLRD operates.