February 18, 2015 – The new Durham York Energy Centre (DYEC) is ready and working. It began processing solid waste on February 13, announced the corresponding regional municipalities.
The facility can process up to 140,000 tonnes of waste each year, which will generate 17.5 gross megawatts of renewable energy—enough to power between 10,000 and 12,000 homes, said Durham and York regions.
“Durham Region and York Region have a long history of working collaboratively on projects for the benefit of both municipalities,” said York Region chairman and CEO Wayne Emmerson. “The Durham York Energy Centre is the most recent example of a sustainable solution to a serious challenge affecting our respective municipalities. This facility will reduce the volume of garbage going to landfill by up to 90%, which supports the goals of York Region’s waste diversion strategy.”
Environmental reports, including current emissions data, are available online, as well as an overview of the facility and answers to frequently asked questions. Emissions from the stack are continuously monitored to ensure compliance with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change air quality standards and Environmental Compliance Approval limits, the municipalities noted.
“York Region Council strongly endorses the fourth ‘R’ – energy recovery,” said Erin Mahoney, York Region’s commissioner of environmental services. “This facility will process 30,000 tonnes of residual waste from York Region each year and further our already high, diversion from landfill rates. We are pleased to partner with Durham Region on the first energy-from-waste facility approved in Ontario in the last 22 years.”
When construction at the DYEC, located in Courtice, is complete, the public will also be able to access the website at a workstation located in the DYEC visitor’s centre. Continuous emissions monitoring data will also be posted on a large electronic board outside of the visitor’s centre.
IMAGE: Concept rendering of Durham York Energy Centre provided by Covanta and McMillan Associates Architects.
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