Central composting facility for Simcoe County would open in October 2018
A report to Simcoe County’s Committee of the Whole recommends initiating the public notification stage to announce the continued pursuit of a central composting facility (CCF) that would handle existing green bin organics, and potentially pet waste, with the future option to expand to process diapers and sanitary products.
No potential locations are referenced at this stage by Stephanie Mack, Simcoe County’s Special Projects Supervisor, in her update on the Jan. 28th agenda.
According to Ms. Mack’s report, the estimated cost to build a facility with capacity for 30,000 tonnes/year anaerobic digestion facility would be $35 million and annual operating costs of $80/tonne.
“With the inclusion of the amortized capital component, the total cost for processing (source separated organices) SSO in this process would be in the order of $160/tonne. For comparison purposes, under the renegotiated 5-year contract with AIM Waste Management Inc. which began in October 2013, the County currently pays $108/tonne processing and approximately $30/tonne transfer and haulage (by County).”
According to the proposed schedule, project planning, siting, and procurement would take place between January 2014 and August 2016; approval process would be between September 2016 and September 2017; and construction to start October 2017 and take a year, and open as the SSO contract with AIM expires in October 2018.
A CCF to handle Simcoe County’s organic waste is a component of the long term waste management strategy.
“The planning, siting, and procurement stage will include a series of eight reports to Council and culminate in final direction to proceed with the approvals process. These reports are proposed to present information at each stage of siting and procurement, seeking direction to proceed at critical junctures. This process is set to occur over a two-and-a-half year time frame with opportunity for Council to review and direct staff in regards to the siting and procurement process and allow for various meetings with stakeholders and public notification sessions,” according to Ms. Mack’s report.
“Following direction from Council, this project is set to begin with public notification, including a public information session. This information session, proposed to occur this June, would provide an update on the status of the project, anticipated timing of the siting and procurement process, and provide an opportunity for discussion. The 2013 Capital Budget allocated $300,000 towards continuing work on the central composting facility project. It was anticipated that these funds would further consultant work. Moving forward, the $300,000 is being carried into 2014 and applied to siting the facility, consultant work, and associated tasks.”
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