Durham Region is preparing to build a Mixed Waste Pre-sort and Anaerobic Digestion (AD) Facility that will convert organic waste into a renewable natural gas.
While Durham’s population continues to grow—with an expectancy to reach more than 1 million people in the next decade—more residents will mean more organic waste, recyclables and garbage to manage. The new Mixed Waste Pre-sort and Anaerobic Digestion (AD) Facility will remove non-combustible material and recyclables from garbage bags to further increase diversion from landfills, and free-up capacity at the Durham York Energy Centre (DYEC) for garbage that can be incinerated to create electricity.
Using waste as a resource
AD will be used to convert organic waste like food scraps into renewable natural gas—used to heat homes and power natural gas barbeques and vehicles. Residuals from this process will also be used to generate electrical energy that can be used in a variety of applications.
AD is a natural composting process that uses microbes found in the environment to produce methane, which can be collected and used as a renewable natural gas. AD is a safe, proven technology used across North America and Europe.
Watch our new video to see how the Mixed Waste Pre-sort and Anaerobic Digestion Facility will work with Durham's waste management program.
Environmental Benefits
There are environmental benefits with a new Mixed Waste Pre-sort and Anaerobic Digestion Facility:
More Renewable Energy
The new facility is anticipated to generate approximately 4 million cubic metres of valuable renewable natural gas by capturing methane that would otherwise be released into the environment.
Greenhouse Gas Reduction
The renewable natural gas generated has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by up to 7,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by the year 2025. This is the single most significant reduction of GHG from the short-term initiatives currently proposed by the Region.
Attraction of Low-Carbon Industries
The new facility will create a local opportunity within the Energy Park and Clarington to attract future clean-energy and low-carbon innovative industries.
More Diversion
By sending Durham's garbage to the new facility first, to remove items that should not be in the garbage, we will send less garbage to the Durham York Energy Centre. This will increase diversion rates and defer the need to expand the Durham York Energy Centre.
Project Updates and Background Documents
Public Consultation
| Mixed Waste Pre-sort and Anaerobic Digestion Facility | Siting Report |
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Comment period has closed. Questions? Contact us by email.
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| Public Information Centre | February 27, 2020 |
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Comment period has closed. Questions? Contact us.
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Frequently Asked Questions
| What are the benefits of a Mixed Waste Pre-sort and Anaerobic Digestion facility? |
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In addition to diverting organics that are sorted from the waste stream, other benefits include:
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| What is anaerobic digestion? |
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Dinner with the family Enjoying a meal, but don't have enough room for that last spoonful? Food scraps Dispose of food scraps or other compostable items in the green bin. Waste processing Green bin materials are processed in closed, air-tight containers where bacteria breaks down organics and creates methane gas. Renewable energy Methane gas is refined and used as a renewable natural gas, which can be used anywhere natural gas is used. |
Anaerobic Digestion (AD) is a method of processing organic waste to create energy.| How will waste be processed? |
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The facility will remove materials—such as food scraps and recyclables—from garbage collected at the curb and from multi-residential buildings. In conjunction with our blue box and green bin programs, this will help us increase diversion rates. Anaerobic Digestion Anaerobic digestion is a process where organics are broken down (degraded) by microbial bacteria in the absence of oxygen under controlled conditions. This process produces biogas, compost liquid wastes and solid residue. The digestion of organics takes place in a special reactor (or enclosed chamber) where critical environmental conditions such as moisture content, temperature and pH levels are controlled to maximize biogas generation and organic decomposition rates. |
Mixed Waste Pre-sorting| Where will the facility be located? |
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The new facility will be located in Clarington, next to the Durham York Energy Centre (DYEC) in the Energy Park. This location will incorporate sustainable development principles and complement the architectural design and landscaping of the Energy Park. The siting report details the methodology used and the factors considered to assess each site, including environmental and developmental impacts, as well as total cost. Six potential candidate sites were evaluated to identify the most suitable location for this facility:
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| Where will the waste come from? |
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Waste will only be accepted from Durham Region, including waste collected from the Region's curbside waste collection program and from multi-residential buildings. Instead of delivering Durham’s waste directly to the Durham York Energy Centre (DYEC), Durham Region residential waste will be delivered to the new Mixed Waste Pre-Sort and Anaerobic Digestion (AD) Facility first for sorting and processing. The facility will sort organics and recyclables from garbage bags (i.e. items that were not properly separated into the green bin or the blue box). This process will not replace or eliminate the current Green Bin or Blue Box program, but will help the Region to maximize diversion efforts. York Region waste will continue to go directly to the DYEC to be turned into energy. The new facility will sort and process the waste coming from Durham residents before it goes to the DYEC. |
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Is the Mixed Waste Pre-sort and Anaerobic Digestion (AD) Facility an incinerator? |
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The new Mixed Waste Pre-sort and Anaerobic Digestion (AD) Facility is not an incinerator. No incineration is used in the mixed waste pre-sort and anaerobic digestion process. The facility will process Durham Region residential waste by separating garbage, organics, and recyclables. The facility will make fertilizer and renewable natural gas from the organics, while sending the garbage and recyclables for further processing. |
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Is the Durham York Energy Centre (DYEC) an Anaerobic Digestion (AD) Facility? |
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The Durham York Energy Centre (DYEC) is not an anaerobic digestion facility. Anaerobic means in the absence of oxygen. The DYEC requires oxygen to operate – oxygen, heat and fuel are the three requirements for the combustion process. The DYEC is a waste management facility that produces energy from the combustion of garbage. |
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Will the new Mixed Waste Pre-sort and Anaerobic Digestion Facility result in more garbage for incineration? |
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No. The new Mixed Waste Pre-sort and Anaerobic Digestion Facility will increase diversion and therefore reduce the amount of garbage for incineration, making additional capacity available at the Durham York Energy Centre. |
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Does the new Mixed Waste Pre-sort and Anaerobic Digestion Facility eliminate the need for residents to sort their waste? |
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Residents will still be required to sort their waste. The new Mixed Waste Pre-sort and Anaerobic Digestion (AD) Facility will separate garbage, organics and recyclable materials in the garbage bags to further increase diversion from landfills. This will not replace or eliminate the current Green Bin or Blue Box programs. The new facility will help the Region to maximize diversion efforts. |
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Can the public still provide input about the new Mixed Waste Pre-sort and Anaerobic Digestion Facility? |
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The Region began public engagement in early 2020 on the new facility with a public information centre. Comments and questions about the new Mixed Waste Pre-sort and Anaerobic Digestion Facility can be sent to ADproject@durham.ca. Visit durham.ca/ADproject for updated information, including Council reports and answers to frequently asked questions. |
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Is an environmental assessment being done for the Mixed Waste Pre-sort & Anaerobic Digestion Facility? |
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The Environmental Assessment Act in Ontario does not require an environmental assessment for waste sorting or anaerobic digestion facilities. These types of operations are recognized as being low risk for environmental pollution and do not generate air emissions. The new facility will obtain an Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA) issued by the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks that will set out the requirements to operate, such as the quantity of waste the facility can receive each day, operating hours, waste storage requirements and monitoring obligations. |
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