Clarington is asking for mediation on the proposed anaerobic digestion facility to be built by Region of Durham in Clarington Energy Park.
The date for a future mediation has yet to be determined. Clarington council previously voted on May 4 to become an “unwilling host” for the facility saying that Clarington should not “assume more than its share of the burden for the region’s waste.”
Clarington says it violates the agreement with Durham Region, and wants to change the location of the anaerobic digestion facility as it doesn’t fit in with the municipality’s plan for that area.
As a result of council’s decision made on May 25, Clarington said it has turned to mediation to try and resolve the issue that has both levels of government at odds, said a Clarington media statement.
Violates agreement
“Clarington Council unanimously decided that the Region of Durham’s decision to build a mixed-waste transfer and pre-sort anaerobic digestion facility in the Clarington Energy Park violates a previously signed Host Community Agreement,” said the statement.
The Region and the Municipality entered into that Agreement in 2010 when Durham decided to build its existing Energy From Waste Facility in Clarington.
“The newly proposed anaerobic digestion facility violates several sections of that agreement, including an implied condition that the region would not utilize the lands in Clarington’s Energy Park for any other waste management purpose,” said the statement.
For many years, Clarington Municipality has envisioned that the Clarington Energy Park will become a key employment area as well as a signature gateway to the community for businesses and visitors.
Durham Region moves ahead with facility
Meanwhile, the Region of Durham Council has taken the next step towards developing the Anaerobic Digestion (AD) facility.
On May 27, council gave approval to continue negotiation of a joint venture/co-ownership agreement with Epcor Utilities Inc. for the development of the Region’s Mixed Waste Pre-Sort and AD facility.
The Mixed Waste Pre-sort AD facility with an Energy from Waste plant, will be a first-of-its-kind fully integrated waste management initiative in North America. This system will convert food scraps into renewable natural gas and will use the residuals to generate electrical energy that can be used in a variety of applications. The proposed AD process will be odour and emissions free, thanks to a facility with negative pressure and the use of bio-filters to remove the odour causing components.
Anaerobic Digestion is a natural process that uses microbes found in the environment to create a renewable natural gas. AD is a safe, proven technology used across North America and Europe.
The new facility will be located next to the Durham York Energy Centre (DYEC) in the Energy Park.
A Durham Region statement said the proposed facility will incorporate sustainable development principles and complement the architectural design and landscaping of the Energy Park. Traffic into the DYEC will only increase by two waste delivery trucks when the Mixed Waste Pre-Sort and AD facility is operational.
The new facility will only accept waste from Durham Region and will delay the need to expand the DYEC facility.
“This is an exciting project for Durham Region, anaerobic digestion has many environmental benefits that contribute to Durham’s climate change mitigation initiatives and allows us to continue to treat waste as a resource to generate energy. The Mixed Waste Pre-sort facility will increase our diversion rates by capturing items that should not have been placed in the garbage, while at the same time processing food scraps into energy and fertilizer products. It’s an initiative that continues to solidify our position as an environmental leader,” said John Henry, Regional Chair and Chief Executive Officer.
Quick Facts
- The Anaerobic Digestion Facility will convert food scraps into renewable energy with
no odours. - This proposed integrated waste management system will be one-of-a-kind campus and will be a first in North America.
- The average number of trucks arriving daily to the DYEC will increase by two.
- The Anaerobic Digestion Facility will convert green bin waste and facility separated organics into renewable energy using a biological process, meaning there are no emissions associated with combustion.
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