This site was last updated: November 9, 2012
Project Start Date: January 2011
Expected Project Completion Date: Winter 2013
Construction Progress Photos
The Dufferin Waste Management Facility located at 35 and 75 Vanley Crescent, includes a Green Bin Processing Facility. This facility processes 40,000 tonnes or one third of all organic materials collected through Toronto’s Green Bin Program. The organic solid material that is produced at this facility is sent for further refinement into finished compost.
Site Map
Why is construction necessary?
Rehabilitation work is required on the anaerobic digester.
The anaerobic digester is a large tank that processes Green Bin material using microorganisms. During this process, biogas and digestate are produced.
Routine inspection of the anaerobic digester revealed that the flexible seal, or scrim, between the walls and roof has deteriorated. The purpose of the scrim is to provide an air-tight seal while allowing the digester roof to raise and lower in response to pressure changes from the biogas. Biogas pressure levels increase and decrease when the digester is being filled and emptied.
Monitoring and patching as required have maintained the integrity of the scrim. However, the scrim needs to be replaced to prevent the release of biogas into the atmosphere. The replacement of the scrim requires the complete shut down of the anaerobic digester for three months.
|
Biogas flare
|
A second anaerobic digestion vessel will be constructed before repairs start on the existing structure. This will allow the facility to maintain its current processing capacity for Green Bin material. After the repairs are completed, both vessels will be used to process Green Bin materials.
Construction Details
Construction work is scheduled to start January, 2011 and is expected to be complete by Spring, 2012.
The work will include:
- Relocation of existing biogas flare (that burns off excess biogas), to make space for the new anaerobic digestion vessel.
- Construction of a new anaerobic digestion vessel.
- Construction of a spill containment system around both the new and existing anaerobic digesters. This containment structure ensures that organic liquid contents would be retained on-site in the event of a spill or leak.
- Replacement of the existing biofilter with a new state-of-the-art odour treatment system that will collect air from the facility and remove odours prior to their release. It will also include a 40 metre stack to aid in odour dispersion. The new biofilter will be constructed before the existing biofilter is removed.
- Replacement of the scrim on the existing anaerobic digestion vessel.
Construction Update - July 18, 2011
The contractor mobilized to the site in April, 2011. Foundation work for the new odour treatment system and new anaerobic digester is currently underway. Following the foundation work, the new odour treatment system and anaerobic digestion vessel will be installed and commissioned. The City has a plan in place to prevent and mitigate odour impacts during the project and will be monitoring for odour frequently throughout the project.
Notices
You'll need the free Adobe
Acrobat reader to view PDF files. 
Links
Contact
For more information, please contact:
Bob Kearse
Senior Engineer
Solid Waste Management Services
telephone: 416-392-3752
email: bkearse@toronto.ca
TTY: 416-397-0831
