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News Release

Durham Regional Council accepts recommended preferred vendor; 'Early Works' agreement next step

WHITBY, ON April 22, 2009 — Durham Regional Council today accepted a staff report recommending the selection of a preferred vendor, and the technology to be used, for the proposed Durham/York energy-from-waste (EFW) facility.

The joint report of the Finance & Administration and Works Committees recommends Covanta Energy Corporation (Covanta) as the preferred vendor, based on a formal evaluation of submissions received from four pre-qualified vendors. Approval by Durham Regional Council means that the preferred vendor will now execute an 'Early Works' agreement with both Durham and York Regions.

This Early Works agreement is primarily required in order to complete the necessary studies to finalize the Environmental Assessment (EA). Contractual arrangements with Covanta for the construction and operation of the facility are subject to the satisfactory completion of the EA and acceptance of the preferred undertaking by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment.

A report—which will include a full assessment of technical, environmental and financial implications to the end of a 20-year operating term, and the execution of the design-build-operate agreement—will be brought back to Committee and Council in June 2009 for final approval.

Covanta Energy Corporation is proposing to be the single source, full service contractor to design, permit, build, start up, commission and operate a 140,000-tonne-per-year, EFW facility for the Regions of Durham and York. Covanta is the largest provider of EFW services in North America, with 35 operating facilities in the United States, including 24 that were designed and built directly by Covanta.

The proposed technology is thermal mass burn, which means that municipal solid waste from curbside pick up is fed into a furnace where it is combusted at about 1,000 degrees Celsius. What remains is an ash residue that is similar in appearance to crushed gravel. This ash is then screened to ensure recyclable metals are removed, with the remaining material shipped to landfill.

The process also includes the production of high-pressure steam, which is fed through a turbine generator that produces electricity and/or hot water energy that can be used for district heating.

Plus, the facility's exhaust is carefully monitored and treated so that chemical contaminants are removed before exiting the stack.

A copy of the staff joint report (2009-J-18) is available on the Region's website (www.durham.ca) and on the study website (www.durhamyorkwaste.ca). Printed copies are available in the Regional Clerk's office at The Regional Municipality of Durham Headquarters, located at 605 Rossland Rd. E. in Whitby.

The selection of a preferred vendor, and specific technology for the proposed EFW facility, is part of an EA process that is currently being undertaken by both Durham and York Regions. Since 2005, these two regions have been working together to examine ways to manage residual waste—the waste that remains after composting and recycling. Next steps in the EA include final site- and technology-specific studies.

For more information on the Durham/York Residual Waste Study, or to review project milestones to date, visit www.durhamyorkwaste.ca, call 905-307-8628 (or toll-free at 1-866-398-4423), or email info@durhamyorkwaste.ca.

Media Inquiries:
REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF DURHAM:
Sherri Munns-Audet - Director, Corporate Communications
905-668-7711 ext. 2068