SkyRocket Compost

• Rates

  SkyRocket compost, a perfect solution for gardening mulch, is available to both residential and commercial purchasers on a first-come, first-serve basis at the Comox Valley Waste Management Centre (proceed through the weigh scales).

  Rates

  SkyRocket is charged per cubic yard, no minimum purchase is required.

  Effective February 1, 2023, the rates for SkyRocket have changed.

  SkyRocket Rates (not including GST)	Rate
  Less than or equal to 12 cubic yards	$18 per yard3 ($24/m3)
  Greater than 12 cubic yards	$14 per yard3 ($18/m3)
  Municipal rate	$8 per yard3 ($10/m3)

  Accepted payment methods:
  Cash
  Cheque
  Credit Card (Visa/Mastercard)
  Interact Debit

  Contact

  Comox Valley Waste Management Centre
  3699 Bevan Road, Cumberland, BC
  Tel: 250-334-6016

• Usage Guidelines

  SkyRocket has no restrictions on its final use which makes it ideal on all outdoor plants, including large-scale landscaping and planting projects, residential landscaping, orchards, flower gardens and lawns. Due to the high nitrogen and other nutrient levels of this product, SkyRocket should be used as a soil conditioner or supplement, rather than as a topsoil or fertilizer. It can be applied annually or as recommended by soil analysis. As with any compost product, hands should be washed immediately after applying or handling the product.

• Tips for Using SkyRocket

  SkyRocket is designed to be used as a soil conditioner or supplement, not a topsoil or fertilizer. It can be used on all outdoor plants.

  For large-scale applications, use SkyRocket to top-dress the areas to one centimeter or amend soil at one part SkyRocket to eight parts soil.

  As when handling any soil supplement, manure or compost product, be sure to wash your hands immediately after applying SkyRocket.

  Flower Beds

  Mix one part SkyRocket with eight parts existing soil. Plant flowers or sow seeds, then water.

  Tubers and Bulbs

  Prepare a mixture of one part SkyRocket and eight parts existing soil. Surround bulb with a good handful of mixture and plant at recommended depth.

  Roses

  Prepare ground as you would flower beds. Plant rosebush in a mixture of one part SkyRocket and four parts soil.

  Container Plantings

  Mix SkyRocket into potting soil mix so that it makes up 10 per cent of the soil.

  Trees and Shrubs

  Dig a hole approximately two times the width and depth of the root ball. Plant in a mixture of one part SkyRocket to four parts soil. Compact firmly and water well.

  New Lawns

  Seeding: cover existing ground with one to two centimeters of SkyRocket. Till into a depth of 10 centimeters. Rake smooth and broadcast seeds as recommended. Use a roller to compact and then keep moist.

  Sod: cover existing ground with one to two centimeters of SkyRocket. Till into a depth of 10 centimeters. Rake smooth. Install new sod and keep moist.

  Established Lawns

  Spread one centimeter of SkyRocket with a rake in late fall or early spring. Water the lawn well after application. For best results, aerate after applying. Be prepared to cut often – tests show that lawns dressed with SkyRocket grow twice as vigorously as those without!

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is SkyRocket safe to use?

  Yes, as a Class A Compost product, SkyRocket is safe to use for large-scale landscaping and planting, as well as for residential use.

  Prior to going out to market, and again throughout the season, SkyRocket is tested to ensure it meets or exceeds the regulations for a Class A Compost, which is the highest of the three levels that regulate organic matter recycling. SkyRocket is tested for pathogens, nutrient value, moisture, pH and metals content. Micro-bacteriological testing is also performed for coliform and salmonella bacterias, as well as testing for metals (lead, mercury, chromium, copper, etc.).

  SkyRocket is regulated by the Provincial Government's Organic Matter Recycling Regulation (OMRR) and it meets the requirement under the Fertilizers Act administered by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

  Compost made from biosolids is one of the most heavily researched of all soil amendments available, and the safety and benefits of its use are well demonstrated. The in-depth review of this significant body of peer-reviewed research has informed the way biosolids are treated, produced, used, and regulated by the Provincial Government and CFIA.

  SkyRocket Analysis

  Maximum Moisture: <60%
  Total Organic Matter: >30%
  pH level: 7.4

  Class A Compost Substance Concentrations

• How is SkyRocket produced?

  The CVRD composts biosolids from the City of Courtenay, the Town of Comox, K’ómoks First Nations and CFB Comox using aerated bunker technology. Biosolids are removed as part of the wastewater treatment process at the Comox Valley Water Pollution Control Centre.

  To create SkyRocket, the wet biosolids are mixed with chipped and ground green waste from the landfill. This mixture is then loaded into a large composting bay where the temperature of the material must be above 55 degrees Celsius for at least 3 consecutive days to destroy pathogens. In fact, the temperatures rise to as high as 65 to 70 degrees Celsius for the entire 28 days ( 4 weeks) in the active composing bunker. The elevated temperature destroys pathogens and oxidizes other chemical constitutes. This is the heart of the composting process. When the mixture is removed from the composting bunker it is screened and then cured in an open channel composting system for another 4 weeks. The finished product is ready for sale after composting, screening and curing has occured. Any oversized amendment green waste that is screened out during the process is recycled back into the next batch.

  All the biosolids produced at the Comox Valley Water Pollution Control Centre are used in this composting process and none are disposed of in any other way.

  The SkyRocket compost facility is located adjacent to the Comox Valley Waste Management Centre located at 3699 Bevan Road in the Village of Cumberland.

• What are biosolids and how are they made?

  Biosolids are a product of the wastewater treatment process. Wastewater treatment includes screening and degritting to remove solids, and aeration to ensure the water meets safety standards before it is discharged. The solids are further processed into stable organic material called biosolids.

  Biosolids contain macronutrients and organic matter that can replenish soil and help it to retain moisture. The biosolids produced at the Comox Valley Water Pollution Control Centre are then used to make SkyRocket.

• Are biosolids the same as sewage sludge or raw sewage?

  No, raw sewage and sewage sludge are the raw waste materials, before treatment. Only treated biosolids from the wastewater treatment process are used in the creation of SkyRocket.

  These treated biosolids are combined with wood waste and undergo composting, screening and curing to create a Class A Compost.