The City of Toronto's organics processing facility is carrying out the Renewable Energy Approval process to construct a biogas utilization facility. Do not include any personal information as all posted material on this site is considered to be part of a public record as defined by section 27 of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. We reserve the right to remove inappropriate comments. Please see Terms of Use for City of Toronto Social Media Sites at http://www.toronto.ca/e-updates/termsofuse.htm.

1. WELCOME!
Thank you for attending the first of two public open houses for the Disco Road Biogas
Utilization Project.
Today we are here to:
• Introduce the Disco Road Biogas Utilization Project
• Provide an overview of the approval process and potential
environmental impacts
• Answer your questions
• Ask for your feedback on the project
Please :
• Sign in to stay updated on the project
• Take hand out materials
• Fill out a Comment Sheet
• Review the Display Boards
• Speak directly with staff
Note: There is no formal presentation
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2. Key Project Elements
Project Overview
• designed to produce electricity to operate the Disco Road Organics Processing
Facility (120 Disco Road), rather than purchase energy from the grid
• designed to capture waste heat that will be used to heat the digester tanks and
buildings
• the City is in the planning and early design stages of the Project and a Draft
Project Description Report (PDR) is available
Major components of the biogas utilization facility include:
• biogas pre-treatment facilities to ensure the system runs smoothly
• 2 generating engines that will produce up to 2.8 megawatts (MW) of power
• heat recovery and supply equipment
• electrical power connections to City facilities at 120 Disco Road (and
potential electrical power connections with 150 Disco Road)
The City is soliciting feedback from the public and Aboriginal communities, and
will respond to all concerns and questions.
Copies of the Draft Project Description Report are available:
• in print at today’s meeting
• In print at local libraries – Northern Elms, Humberwood, Rexdale, Albion, City Hall
• online at www.toronto.ca/discogreen
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3. Project Location
Location: 150 Disco Road in Etobicoke, near Highways 427 and 409
Land Use: Industrial land owned by the City of Toronto, on a 5.4 hectare property
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4. How Biogas Facilities Work
Start
here
Residual Waste, such as
plastic bags, sent to Green
Lane Landfill
Water added to material
Clean Organic Pulp
Tipping Floor
Green Bin materials collected and
sent to transfer stations.
Suspension
Buffer Tank
Anaerobic Digester
Tanks
Water
Removed
Effluent
Digester Solids
Compost
Biogas
Biogas
Utilization
system
Flare
Electricity generation for
facility (to remove/reduce
reliance on power grid)
Key Words
Anaerobic Digestion
• A process by which naturally occurring
anaerobic bacteria partially break down
biodegradable material in the absence of
oxygen
• A by-product of anaerobic digestion is biogas
Biogas
• A mixture of approximately 60% methane
and 40% carbon dioxide
• Contains minor amounts of other trace gases
and compounds
• Biogas is a renewable energy source
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Hydropulper
processing area

5. The Approval Process: Renewable Energy Approval (REA)
This project involves the generation of electricity from a renewable energy source
(biogas from Green Bin waste), for which the City must apply and be granted a
Renewable Energy Approval (REA) from the Ministry of the Environment and Climate
Change.
The REA process is:
• governed by Ontario Regulation 359/09
• a strict approval process that requires extensive studies on the project’s potential
effects on the following :
• Natural heritage: plants, water,
animals
• Cultural heritage: archaeology
and built heritage
• Noise, air emissions and odours
The REA process sets out minimum
consultation requirements with the
public, municipalities and Aboriginal
communities.
Note: See Slide 7 for further detail on project timeline
Source: www.energy.gov.on.ca/images/content/en/fitguide/REA%20Timelines.JPG
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6. Renewable Energy Approval: Potential Environmental Impacts and Required Studies
Natural Heritage Cultural Heritage Noise, Air Emissions and Odour
• The goal of the natural heritage
assessment is to protect natural
heritage features, such as wetlands,
woodlands, areas of natural and
scientific interest. This involves:
1. A detailed review of available
natural heritage information about
the area, including online and
published sources.
2. Site investigations during which
biologists will examine all air, land
and water within a minimum of 120
metres of the Project Location to
verify the results of the records
review, identify additional natural
features, and classify features.
• Assessment of cultural heritage
resources will be carried out in keeping
with the Ministry of Tourism, Culture
and Sport’s guidance for the REA
process.
• While archaeological resources are not
expected near the Project Location due
to use as a landfill, an assessment of
archaeological potential will be carried
out by a licensed consultant
archaeologist.
• Since buildings over 40 years of age
are situated near the Project Location,
an assessment of the Project’s impacts
to built heritage resources will be
conducted by a qualified heritage
consultant.
• Noise from the generators will be
assessed to ensure compliance with
Ministry of the Environment and
Climate Change noise level limits.
• Emissions of nitrogen oxides, sulphur
dioxide, particulate matter and other
parameters into the air will be assessed
to demonstrate compliance with
Ministry of the Environment and
Climate Change standards under
Ontario Regulation 419/05.
• Sources of odour, mitigation measures
and the potential for odour to cause
negative effects will be identified.
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7. Key Project Dates and Activities
• Biogas
Utilization Study
• PIC #1 (tonight)
• Draft Project
Description
Report
• Additional
Reports
• PIC #2 (Nov.)
• Submit REA
application
Note: All timelines subject to change
Planning Design Construction Operation
De-
Commission
Summer 2013 to
Winter 2015
Winter to
Summer 2015
Fall 2015 to
Winter 2016
Spring 2016
To be
Determined
• Receive REA
approval
• Issue Design/
Build/ Operate
(DBO) Request
for Proposal
• Award DBO
Contract
• Start
Construction
• Prepare Site
• Construct
facility
• Rehabilitate
Site
• Commission
and start
operation of
Biogas
Utilization
Facility
• Operate facility
for 20 years
(expected)
• Remove and
salvage facility
components
• Restore land to
acceptable
condition for
future use
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8. Next Steps:
• Summarize and respond to
comments received at this
Open House
• Prepare and complete
reports for the required
environmental studies, taking
your feedback into account
• Hold a final Public Open
House event (estimate Fall,
2014)
Contact Us:
www.toronto.ca/discogreen
Kate Kusiak, Public Consultation
416-392-2962
kkusiak@toronto.ca
or
Silvio Abate, Project Engineer
416-392-7088
sabate@toronto.ca
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9. We value your feedback and
want to hear what you think
about this project.
Please complete a comment sheet
before you go so that we can take
your feedback into consideration.
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10. City of Toronto: Future Biogas Opportunities
Additional opportunities for Biogas
Beyond Disco Road Organics Processing Facility, Solid Waste Management Services
(SWMS) has the following additional opportunities to develop biogas at 2 other
existing facilities:
1. Dufferin Organics Processing Facility – 35 Vanley Crescent, Toronto
2. Green Lane Landfill (landfill gas) - Southwold, ON
These two facilities (along with the Disco Road facility) currently collect biogas and
safely flare it on-site. Dufferin Organics Processing Facility is currently closed for
expansion and is scheduled to re-open in 2017 (estimated).
The City of Toronto’s Solid Waste Management Services is finalizing a Biogas and
Landfill Gas Utilization Strategy Study to review and assess options to further use
biogas at these two sites, including:
• Production of renewable natural gas
• Production of methanol
• Conversion to heat
• Electricity generation
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11. About the City of Toronto Solid Waste Management Services Division
Mission Statement
To be a leader in providing innovative management services to residents, businesses
and visitors within the City of Toronto in an efficient, effective and courteous manner,
creating environmental sustainability, promoting diversion and maintaining a clean city.
The Division oversees and manages:
• 13 maintenance and operating yards
• Two organics processing facilities
• Seven transfer stations and
household hazardous waste depots
• Two materials recovery facilities
• The Green Lane Landfill
www.toronto.ca/garbage
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