Waste Management in Peel Region:
The region of Peel is home to 4 different waste management facilities:
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Peel Integrated Waste Management Facility
Caledon Sanitary Landfill Site
Algonquin Power Energy-From-Waste Facility
Closed Landfill Sites
Read the profiles for each of the four facilities and answer the questions that follow:
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Peel Integrated Waste Management Facility
Quick Facts:
The Peel Integrated Waste Management Facility (IWMF) is the largest of its kind in
Canada and houses:
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a single stream Material Recovery Facility (MRF)
a waste transfer station
an organics composting plant
The material recovery facility has a capacity to process 130,000 tonnes of Blue Box
material per year.
The waste transfer station is approved to transfer up to 100,000 tonnes of waste per year.
The organics composting plant will begin operating later this spring and will have the
capacity to process 60,000 tonnes of organic material annually.
Waste Management of Canada Corporation is contracted to operate and maintain the
MRF, as well as market all fibre material for a five-year period.
Regional staff is responsible for the operation of the waste transfer station and the
organics composting plant as well as marketing all container material from the MRF.
The IWMF is on a Region-owned 16 hectare site located at 7795 Torbram Rd., just south
of Highway 407 in Brampton.
As part of the planning to introduce Region-wide organics collection, the Region of Peel
identified a critical need for a new waste management facility offering single stream recycling,
organics processing capability and waste transfer capacity.
A single large-scale facility provides better processing efficiency and allows for collection of
recyclable material and organic waste on one split body truck, reducing collection costs.
The new facility will provide several significant benefits to the Region:
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Long-term processing capacity for recyclable material and organic waste will
enable Peel to meet its waste diversion targets
This large-scale Region-owned facility provides a cost effective solution for the
Region’s future waste management needs
This multi-purpose facility provides flexibility to effectively collect a wide range
of recyclable material and organic waste on one truck, which benefits the
environment and reduces waste collection costs
Questions:
1) Why did Peel Region build the IWMF?
2) How will the IWMF help the Region of Peel
3) What capacity does the facility have to process both blue box and waste material?
Caledon Sanitary Landfill Site
A sanitary landfill site is a waste disposal facility where waste is deposited into the
ground and covered. All sanitary landfill sites in Ontario are regulated and monitored by
the Ministry of the Environment.
The Town of Caledon operated the Caledon Sanitary Landfill Site (CSLS) from 1968
until July of 1976. The Region of Peel took over site operations in 1976, but the Town of
Caledon still maintains ownership of the site today.
The landfill site is approximately 20 hectares (45 acres) in size. In 2000, the landfill
accepted 13,205 tonnes of waste. This waste is primarily generated within the Town of
Caledon. Landfill operations will continue until approved contour levels have been
reached.
All waste at the site is compacted to reduce volume and water filtration. The process of
compaction reduces the production of methane gas and leachate, both of which are
produced through the natural decomposition of waste. On-site there is a continuous
groundwater monitoring program.
The Active Landfilling Area is where residents and businesses can dispose of their nonrecyclable waste. This can be particularly helpful to residents when they have larger
amounts of waste, or materials too heavy to put out at the curb.
Questions:
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Who regulates landfill sites in the province of Ontario?
What is a sanitary landfill?
How large is the Caledon site? What is the capacity of this facility?
What is the active landfilling area?
5) What does compaction of the waste do?
Algonquin Power Energy-From-Waste Facility
An EFW facility incinerates non-hazardous solid waste to produce energy.
This facility has been open since 1992. Algonquin Power Systems Inc. operates the EFW
facility in Brampton.
Of the 174,000 tonnes of solid waste being processed each year, approximately 160,000
tonnes is residential waste from the Region of Peel. The remainder of the waste processed
at the facility is international airport waste and industrial, commercial and institutional
(IC&I) waste.
Stack emissions are continuously monitored and results are submitted to the Ministry of
Environment (MOE) on a monthly basis.
The Region of Peel also contracts an independent consultant to conduct stack testing on
the facility.
Emission results are discussed at Public Liaison Committee meetings held by the Region
of Peel approximately every two months. The Liaison Committee also acts as a public
forum, where public concerns are addressed.
Questions:
1) What does an EFW do?
Closed Landfill Sites
Closed landfill sites continue to receive stringent environmental monitoring
and controls.
Environmental Monitoring and Controls
Leachate is a product that results from water contacting waste. A leachate collection
system was constructed at the Britannia Sanitary Landfill Site in order to prevent leachate
from migrating off-site. The system is characterized by a series of collection pipes lying
beneath the waste. These pipes drain the leachate to the municipal sanitary sewer system.
The leachate is then processed at one of the Region's sewage treatment plants.
Methane is a landfill gas produced naturally as waste decomposes. Methane gas is
collected through the leachate collection system, then drawn to an on-site flare for
controlled burning.
Litter fencing and dust control measures has been strategically placed around the site.
Staff are committed to the cleanliness of the site, and provide off-site litter pick-up and
dust reduction.
As required by the MOE Certificate of Approval, the Region continually monitors
landfill gas, ground water, surface water and storm water.
Questions:
1) What is Leachate?
2) Describe the Leachate collection system used at the Britannia Sanitary Landfill?
3) How is methane gas disposed of at this site?