West Coast Reduction (WCR) has responded to our recent post “Something in the Air” about its request for a new air pollution permit. The form letter sent by WCR’s Environmental Manager Paul Faber suggests that the company plans to shut down the rendering plant on North Commercial Drive. No date is given beyond “we have made a commitment to discontinue this activity at our site to focus on our other two primary activities – feedstock for biofuels and export of Canadian canola oil.” They go on the say that this “activity is not a source of odour at our site.”
While this sounds good, the letter raises more questions than it answers. The company has not said when they will shut down the rendering plant. They haven’t explained why they need more odour control air scrubbers and thermal oxidizers if feedstock and canola oil production are not sources of odour. And they haven’t addressed why they want a permit that allows them an increase the discharge of air contaminants until 2036.
There is still time to email Metro Vancouver with your questions or concerns. Metro Vancouver is accepting comments until 6 March 2021. You can email them at WestCoastReductionComments@metrovancouver.org
The letter from West Coast Reduction has not changed our minds. We still think a public meeting is the only way to clear the air.
Notre Dame Neighbours 
Hi Phillip, quick response… they will close someday, because the port of vancouver will not renew their lease, and something more noxious will end up there, hugely expanded port, trucks, all of that stuff. from what I remember reading. Not at all discounting anything, just saying, it ain’t gonna be trees and flowers replacing it. 😉
On Fri, 5 Mar 2021 at 11:36, Notre Dame Neighbours wrote:
> notredameneighbours posted: ” West Coast Reduction (WCR) has responded to > our recent post “Something in the Air” about its request for a new air > pollution permit. The form letter sent by WCR’s Environmental Manager Paul > Faber suggests that the company plans to shut down the renderi” >
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I’m sure you are correct. The Vancouver Sun wrote about that a few weeks back: https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/container-plans-put-pressure-on-port-of-vancouver-tenants-neighbours?fbclid=IwAR0HnixNkSW3tG5XOicKX-twU3xsBJbyyzGgC92ddYzNAiswh1cdM8T7ahM
Still, we can only deal with what is in front of us and that’s a 15 year permit request that will add 24 tonnes of contaminants a year into our air.
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