City of Toronto organics and waste management renewable natural gas facilities
At a glance
The City of Toronto is continuing to implement Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) projects to support the City’s 2030 targets identified in its Net-Zero strategy. Outlined in this strategy is the goal to reduce approximately 107,700 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2e) per year. Investments in organic waste processing facilities and landfill gas control and utilization systems are a priority to meet the City’s emission reduction goals.
The challenge
In 2019, the City of Toronto declared a climate emergency as residents and businesses were experiencing more frequent severe weather events. Addressing the urgency of worsening climate conditions, the City revisited its TransformTO Net Zero Strategy by pushing its original net-zero target forward from 2050 to 2040. This 2040 target is now one of the most ambitious in North America for municipalities.
The City’s Solid Waste Management Division saw the expedited net-zero goal as an opportunity to prioritize renewable energy efforts. One of the implementation actions for 2022-2025 was to lead by example through management of waste and producing renewable energy from biogas at City facilities.
Our response
GHD supported the City in developing their Source Separated Organics Program to divert organics out of landfill waste and turn them into compost. The Organics are also turned into RNG to heat City buildings and fuel their waste collection vehicles.
GHD prepared a detailed Feasibility Study for the Dufferin RNG project, providing key findings and requirements for the construction of the first biogas upgrading facility. GHD also provided contract and procurement support, conceptual and detailed design and engineering services, permitting and approvals support along with construction and commissioning support and troubleshooting. This ongoing work has ensured continued integration of the biomethane system with the City’s Anaerobic Digesters and Enbridge's injection station during the construction, commissioning and operations phases.
In 2021, GHD, on behalf on Enbridge, prepared a detailed Feasibility Study, led the environmental approvals and provided contract and procurement support, detailed design and engineering services for the Disco Road Organics Processing Facility RNG project, developing the City’s second Organics to RNG project. This led to Enbridge retaining GHD to take on full engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services and permitting on the Disco Road Organics Processing Facility RNG project. Once completed, this facility is expected to produce a constant source of carbon-neutral RNG from organic waste to support the City’s decarbonisation efforts.
Based on the RNG project successes in Toronto, the City continues to investigate technology to beneficially utilize landfill gas. The Green Lane Landfill facility is considering an upgrade to the landfill gas and utilization system on-site in the coming years.
The impact
These facilities have established the City of Toronto as a leader in the RNG field, demonstrating a model for RNG production for other municipalities in Canada. Dufferin helped reduce more than 4,000 tonnes of CO2e emissions each year, while Disco Road is estimated to eliminate more than 12,000 tonnes of CO2e emissions each year.
The success of both the Dufferin and Disco Road projects has prompted more potential RNG projects for the City with the Green Lane and Keele Valley Landfill projects. The Green Lane Landfill RNG facility is expected to reduce more than 55,000 tonnes of CO2e each year. With these groundbreaking built and future RNG projects, the City is well on its way to decreasing reliance on fossil-fuel natural gas and contributing to a circular economy.