Do you compost food waste?

Poll: Do you compost?

Photo: Ministry of the Environment and Parks

An unlined leachate collection ditch at the Spa Hills composting facility

A Shuswap composting facility could be facing administrative penalties after the Ministry of the Environment paid a visit late last year — an inspection which the facility's owner allegedly tried to stop.

On Jan. 28, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy issued an administrative penalty referral to the Spa Hills Compost facility located in Yankee Flats. The decision was in response to an on-site inspection which occurred on Nov. 26, 2025.

Yankee Flats residents living near the compost facility have complained about excessive foul odours and other problems going back to 2023.

The ministry report said environmental protection officers Conner Fraleigh and Rebecca Benham arrived at Spa Hills Farm in Yankee Flats to perform an on-site inspection, but they were initially refused access by owner Josh Mitchell.

According to the report, Mitchell allegedly said he "felt threatened by Benham’s presence” and after “verbal discussions began to escalate” between both parties, a conservation officer had to be called in to “keep the peace.”

Once the conservation officer arrived on site, the environmental protection officers were allowed to conduct their on-site inspection.

However, in his report, Fraleigh said this initial refusal to allow officers access constituted obstruction of a ministry official, which can result in a fine of up to $200,000.

The inspection was conducted as a follow up to a visit on July 16, 2025, which found the facility out of compliance in several areas. Environmental protection officers were also responding to a new complaint.

“On Nov. 25, 2025, a complaint was submitted to the ministry which alleged that on Nov. 25, 2025, waste material from a trucking company's truck washing facility catch basin was being mixed into the large pile of finished compost at the north end of the property,” said Fraleigh in the report.

The complainant also sent the ministry pictures and videos of the suspected waste material being deposited and mixed into the compost pile.

He said when the ministry questioned Mitchell about the complaint, he told them the material deposited into the finished compost was clean soil sourced from their property and deposited by one of their trailers.

Read more

Have an opinion? Send it to [email protected]