Prince George, BC – The Ministry of Environment has launched a formal investigation in response to concerns potentially hazardous ash was shipped from an incinerator in Burnaby to a landfill in Cache Creek this past summer.

In announcing the investigation, Environment Minister, Terry Lake, says, "There is currently nothing to indicate any risk whatsoever to human health or environmental safety; however, any potential issue of non-compliance is something I take very seriously, and that is why we are conducting an investigation."

The Cache Creek landfill, operated by Wastech, is not authorized for hazardous waste.  At issue is approximately 1,800 tonnes of ‘fly ash’ shipped from the Burnaby Waste-to-Energy (WTE) facility to the landfill in July and August. 

The WTE is owned by Metro Vancouver and operated by Covanta Renewable Energy.  Ministry staff are working with Metro Vancouver, Covanta, and Wastech to deal with the removal of the ash from the landfill. 

The investigation is being conducted by the ministry’s Environmental Protection Division offices in Kamloops and Surrey and the Conservation Officer Service.

All ash currently being produced by the facility is being transported to an authorized hazardous waste facility in Alberta.