March 11, 1999
To:Works and Utilities Committee
From:Barry Gutteridge
Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services
Subject:Thackeray Landfill Gas Utilization Project
Purpose:
The purpose of this report is to seek Council approval for issuance of a Request for
Expressions of Interest (REOI) and a subsequent Request for Proposals (RFP) for the
utilization of landfill gas at Thackeray Landfill Site.
Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
There are no direct funding implications arising from this report.
Recommendation:
It is recommended that the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services be authorized to
issue a Request for Expressions of Interest and subsequent Request for Proposals for the
utilization of landfill gas at Thackeray Landfill Site.
Council Reference/Background/ History:
Thackeray Landfill Site, located in the City of Vaughan at the north east corner of Kipling
Avenue and Steeles Avenue, is the former Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto's fourth
largest landfill site. Approximately 2.2 million tonnes of nonhazardous waste was deposited at
the 45-hectare site prior to site closure in 1978. By agreement signed on November 6, 1979,
the property was turned over to the Toronto Region Conservation Authority to be utilized as
parkland. The City maintains the environmental control system at the site as part of the
perpetual care program. Approximately one hectare of the landfill is currently used by the
Etobicoke Model Airplane Flying Club.
Results from two series of gas extraction pump tests conducted in 1996 and 1998 at the site
indicate that the landfill is capable of sustaining a landfill gas generation rate in excess of 250
standard cubic feet per minute (scfm).
Discussion and Justification:
Utilization of the methane component of the landfill gas at Thackeray Landfill will qualify as
the City's fourth landfill gas to energy project. Currently landfill gas is converted to electricity
at Brock West Landfill, Keele Valley Landfill and Beare Landfill. At Brock West Landfill,
approximately 6000 scfm of landfill gas is converted to approximately 12 MW of Electricity.
At Keele Valley Landfill, approximately 15,000 scfm of landfill gas are converted to 33 MW
of electricity. Beare Landfill located east of the Metro Zoo, converts approximately 1500 scfm
of landfill gas to approximately 3.5 MW of electricity.
The City receives royalties in an amount exceeding $2,000,000.00 annually from the sale of
electricity to Ontario Hydro from the three landfill gas utilization schemes. Capture and
utilization of the methane generated at the three landfills prevents an annual equivalent impact
in excess of 2,000,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere; this value equates to the
amount of carbon dioxide produced by approximately 400,000 automobiles per year.
The purpose of the REOI and the RFP is to seek conceptual proposals and subsequent detailed
proposals for the utilization of the landfill gas at the Thackeray Landfill site. The REOIs will
be reviewed through a formal process by City staff to short list those which are viewed to be
in the best interest of the City. Those companies will be sent RFPs. The proposals received
will in turn be reviewed through a formal process by City staff to select the preferred proposal.
As the Thackeray Landfill site is located in the City of Vaughan, staff will consult with the
City of Vaughan staff to incorporate any comments in the proposal process. A summary of the
results of this process and recommendations will be the subject of a further report to Council.
The amount of landfill gas available from the Thackeray site is relatively small (250 scfm)
compared to the City's three existing landfill gas utilization projects. This makes the project
marginally viable financially due to the high cost of electrical infrastructure. However,
growing interest in green energy, i.e., energy generated from a resource which is otherwise
lost, is beginning to sustain or support projects. Energy purchasers are prepared to pay a
premium for the energy provided from "green" sources such as river hydro, wind turbine,
photovoltaics, and landfill gas projects.
The response for the proposed REOI and the RFP may result in proposals to utilize the landfill
gas for projects such as heating in greenhouses, micro turbines, fuel cells, reciprocating
engines for electrical generation, conversion of landfill gas into vehicle fuel or compressing
and trailer transporting the landfill gas directly to an end user.
Regardless of the technology selected, this project, if proceeded with, will have measurable
environmental benefits since the landfill gas at Thackeray Landfill Site is currently escaping
to the atmosphere. Utilization of 250 scfm of landfill gas, applying the 100-year time horizon
Global Warming Potential for methane, will result in an annual methane emission reduction of
over 22,000 tonnes in carbon dioxide equivalent, which may be available as emission
reduction credits if the City chooses to participate in emission reduction credit sales or
trading. This amount of carbon dioxide is equivalent to the removal of 4700 cars from the
roadways of the City.
Staff of the Toronto Region Conservation Authority have been consulted about the landfill gas
utilization concept and concur with the issuing of an REOI for harvesting of the landfill gas.
Staff of Parks and Recreation - Etobicoke District have been advised of the concept of
harvesting the landfill gas, and have recommended that a public consultation opportunity
should be facilitated for the surrounding neighbourhood. This public consultation will run
concurrently with the REOI and RFP processes.
Conclusion:
Obtaining proposals through the REOI and the RFP process will enable the City to evaluate
and select a suitable proposal from a wide range of technologies that may be available for
utilization of approximately 250 scfm of landfill gas at Thackeray Landfill Site.
Contact Names:
K.S. Hogg
Manager, Operational Support
Solid Waste Management Services
Works and Emergency Services
Phone: 392-4226
Fax: 392-4754
E-mail: ken_hogg@metrodesk.metrotor.on.ca
Angelos BacopoulosBarry Gutteridge
General ManagerCommissioner
Solid Waste Management ServicesWorks and Emergency Services
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