Wood waste disposal

Agricultural wood waste chipping program

A free chipping program is available to encourage orchardists to chip wood waste (stumps and branches) instead of burning it. If you have wood waste derived from an orchard removal for the purpose of replanting or other agricultural use, you may apply for this program.

In the past, a common method of disposal has been burning. This produces a smoky haze, toxic chemicals and particles that are harmful to human health. Chipping wood waste helps keep our air clean and provides growers with valuable wood chips.

Local benefits

• In 2022, a total of 3,843 cubic metres of wood was chipped on 10 local orchards clearing 75 acres
• 6 mow/chip/rent-it rebates were granted for fuel reduction clearing 86 acres
• Residents estimate they spent 289 hours making 24 piles of wood that ultimately were not burned
• As a result, 96 tonnes of Particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) and 195 tonnes of carbon monoxide (CO) and 17 tonnes of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC's) were not released into the air

Register to the program

Registration is accepted year-round, and chipping generally occurs from March through June and from September through December. It's recommended you register for the program at least one year in advance. Registration is open for the 2023 chipping program.

Register here

This program is coordinated by our Regional Air Quality Program with support from the British Columbia Fruit Growers Association, the BC Fruit Packers Cooperative and the Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre.

Eligibility requirements

• Your orchard/property is 1 ha or greater in size, and located within the Central Okanagan (Kelowna, West Kelowna, Lake Country, Peachland, Central Okanagan East and Central Okanagan West Electoral Areas. 
• The land is classified as agricultural; orchards being removed for the purpose of residential or commercial development will not be accepted.
• The site is accessible for the chipping equipment.
• You have a large amount of wood waste.

Waitlist

If your orchard qualifies under the program guidelines, your name will be placed on the waitlist.

• The wait-list is managed on a first-come, first-served basis
• A contractor will contact you to do a site visit and schedule the chipping
• Delays may occur due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances.  To minimize delays:
  • Trees must be prepared properly. Check alternatives to burning and how to prepare for wood chipping
  • Piles must be clean of dirt and rocks and metal. Failure to remove unwanted material will result in additional fees or refusal of chipping
  • Piles must be accessible to grinder/excavator
  • Piles must be stacked out of the way so the farmers can start or continue their irrigation and planting process
• A grinder will be brought to your orchard to chip stumps and large branches into 1 to 2-inch diameter sized chips
• After chipping, the wood chip piles will be measured by a surveyor, after which the chips can be used as mulch
• Delays may occur due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances
• There is no guarantee that chipping jobs on the registration waitlist will be performed in the same year

If you are interested in a Replant Program, visit the BC Fruit Growers' Association webpage. The Replant Program is funded by BC Investment Agriculture and the Province of BC. Applications are received on a first-come, first-served basis.

Mow/chip/rent-buy-it rebate program - new incentives as of June 2022

By preventing burning and smoke, the mow/chip/rent-buy-it rebate will help residents and farmers/orchardists with the rental/purchase cost to chip/flail mow small volumes of wood waste on their property.

Eligibility requirements

• For residential and farm properties size is 1 ha or greater and located within the Central Okanagan (Kelowna, West Kelowna, Lake Country, Peachland, Westbank First Nation, Central Okanagan East and Central Okanagan West Electoral Areas).
• Residential property means
  • residential property 1ha (2.47 acres) or greater (not farm) or
  • residential property 1ha (2.47 acres) or greater in a fuel management /wildfire interface area.     
• Farm property means
  •  farms classified as Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) or
  • farm status by BC Assessment or a local government.
• Rebates are granted first come, first served basis. Funding is limited and based on availability.
  • Incentive levels are updated from time to time. For new incentive levels, invoice date should be June 1^st, 2022, onward.
  • Rebate application and invoice (rental/service/purchase) should happen on the same year. Application deadline is December 31^st.
• The rental/purchase equipment should be used for the purposes of fuel reduction and/or agricultural activities.
• Small volume of wood means less than 4 piles sized 3m width x3m large x2m height. If you have 4 or more piles, consider applying to the Agricultural Chipping Program instead.

Rebate incentive levels as of June 1, 2022:

• For Residential Property
  • Rebate money is limited to 80% of the daily/multi-day/weekly/rental or chipping/flail mow service up to $500 rebate per applicant. Residents can apply once per year.
• For Farm Property
  • Rebate money up to a maximum of $3000 for the daily/multi-day/weekly/rental or chipping/flail mow service cost. Farmers can apply once per year.
• For Residential and Farm property
  • Rebate money for the purchase of a new chipper or flail mower up to a maximum of $1500.  This is a one-time purchase rebate per property. The amount granted cannot exceed 50% of the total equipment cost.

Benefits

According to the Agricultural Waste Disposal Best Practices Guide, burning is not recommended for prunings, which are easily managed with a flail mower and/or a chipper.

Chipping and mowing have the following benefits:

Process

1. Rent or buy a 6, 12-inch or bigger chipper or a flail mower (there are several retailers and chippers available for rent or purchase in our region. Or hire a contractor for the chipping service.
2. Wood waste is best chipped when it's still green/moist. Dry wood creates too much dust and wears down the chipping blades faster.
3. Fill out the online mow/chip/rent-buy-it rebate form
4. Rebates are granted first come, first served basis. Funding is limited and based on availability. If approved, you will receive a cheque to your mailing address according to the applicable incentive level.
5. Use your wood chips on your property or give them away to your neighbours. Mixing chips into soil instead of layering it on top allows for faster breakdown. For residences in wildfire/interface areas, follow the FireSmart guidelines Residential Use of Wood Chips Memo

Apply here

Email or call 250-469-8408 for more information.

 Best practices

The Agricultural Waste Disposal Best Practices Guide and videos below offer useful information for farmers, orchardists and residents to save time and money, while benefiting the environment. The guide explains local air quality issues and offers useful information about yard waste disposal options, so that you can efficiently manage:

• Orchard/vineyard removal
• Pruning/yard waste
• Recycling agricultural plastics 

Best practices for agricultural waste disposal

Utilizing wood chips

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