Sandher Fruit Packers Ltd. gives residents their stink

Video of the Sandher's latest offense was posted February 6, 2024.

Residents of the rural community of Ellison are complaining yet again about the overpowering stench of sewage. Residents point to the fruit packing facility of Sandher Fruit Packers Ltd. The frequent flyer offender was fined two years ago for releasing wastewater from a septic system and disposal field. In 2022, the Ministry of the Environment levied a $32k fine against Sandher for deliberately violating waste discharge regulations and ignoring warnings. The $32k fine was paid Aug. 23, 2022 and that did nothing to slow their growing discharge of illegal industrial waste.

An inspector was told that 57,120 liters per day of waste water is produced by the plant operating five days per week. Four chemicals are used in processing, including phosphoric acid. Sodium hypchlorite is liquid bleach, Acidx Dual is a cleaner used to remove natural wax so that a coating of Shield-Brite® can be applied. Shield-Brite® AP-450 is a shelac-based coating. “Sandher had been found discharging wastewater into a failing septic system and an unlined lagoon while operating without an authorization... during four previous inspections” Construction on the structure began without the company submitting engineered drawings and site plans. There was no building permit.

Sandher Fruit Packers Ltd. was ordered to stop building it's huge plant in 2019 because it failed to obtain any permits. It took two stop work orders.

Sandher Fruit Packers was issued 3 fines — a maximum $150 each.

Prab Sandher said the plant had to get built before cherry season.

'Bill' Sandher moved from Punjab as a teenager in 1982.

In February 2018 the Sandhers received a $575 fine for an unauthorized discharge. Their last inspection was February 2, 2024 and the Ministry recommended more fines for the Sandher's continuous non-compliance.

Sandher Fruit Packing Ltd. in #Kelowna received a $32,000 administrative penalty for discharging wastewater via an unauthorized septic system and disposal field. The company previously received 2 warnings and a violation ticket for the same thing .ow.ly/r4IZ50I8a1X pic.twitter.com/WYwzUl8i1g — Environmental Compliance BC (@ComplianceBC) August 3, 2022

Despite never having waste discharge authorization the Sandhers are expanding. Their cherry operations have expanded into wine growing areas. The cherry orchard expansion, 343 acres, is on land owned by G.P. Sandher Holdings Ltd. Perhaps jail should be tired with these shameless criminals.

https://nrced.gov.bc.ca/records

Latest for the Sandhers is an application to offload their copious chemical waste directly into a stream. No, we aren't making this up. Leading chemical is Shield-Brite® which is an antifungal agent used instead of chlorine to stop surface rot.

"Do not discharge into sewers, lakes, streams, or other bodies of water." "Food & Drug Administration Act 403(i)(2) requires that fresh produce coated with this product be labeled “Coated with food-grade vegetable and/or shellac based resin or wax”

Previously this waste was flushed into the sewage system. That inadequate system is breaking down completely again, something neighbors know too well. “During the fruit washing process, wastewater is discharged from the facility into (a) disposal field via a septic tank system.” The Sandhers know, and have known all along, they have never had authorization to discharge their growing volumes of industrial waste water.