Organic waste facility returning to full-scale operations

Starting today, Guelph will resume receipt of organic waste at its organic waste facility. Waste will be gradually re-introduced in order to monitor and verify that all air containment and odour management systems are functioning properly.

The Ontario Ministry of the Environment has approved an amendment to Guelph’s Environmental Compliance Approval allowing the City to resume receipt of organic waste. The City asks residents to keep sorting waste into green, blue and clear bags as the facility returns to full-scale operations by April.

“We appreciate everyone’s patience as we continue commissioning the facility,
and we’ll continue reporting on our progress,” said Janet Laird, Executive
Director of Guelph’s Planning & Building, Engineering and Environment
department. “We’re looking forward to being fully operational this spring.”

About the organic waste action plan

Last fall, upon receiving reports of odours from nearby residents, the City
stopped taking in organic waste and asked the facility’s builder, Maple
Reinders, to review the facility’s air containment and odour management systems and develop an action plan to address odours.

Maple Reinders used input from a citizen’s advisory committee, the Ministry of
the Environment and the City’s consultant to develop and finalize the action
plan.

Maple Reinders took immediate steps to minimize odours at the facility, and on
February 10 the Ministry of the Environment approved an amendment to Guelph’s Environmental Compliance Approval allowing Maple Reinders to implement further recommendations in the action plan including:

Air Containment System

- installing a carbon filter on the acid waste tank

Odour Management System

- rather than using automated ammonia sensors, several measurements will be made each day using hand-held adsorption tubes
- a modified operate scrubber/humidifier will operate using pH levels rather
than ammonia levels

The action plan also recommends an amendment to Guelph’s Environmental
Compliance Approval allowing Maple Reinders to re-design and install a permanent connection between the blower room and the odour management system to prevent potential fugitive odours.