Date: September 20, 2012
Source: City of Surrey
The City of Surrey, BC, near Vancouver, plans to build a $68 million, 80,000 ton-per-year organic biofuel facility, which will make it the largest such facility in Canada, and perhaps the most expensive. The Government of Canada will contribute up to $16.9 million, 25 percent of the project cost with the remaining $50.7 million to come from an as yet to be selected private partner who will design, build, finance, and operate the facility under a long-term agreement. The city, which collects waste from about 100,000 homes, hopes the facility will help them achieve a regional 70 percent waste diversion target by 2015. The facility will process residential and commercial kitchen and yard waste into compressed natural gas (CNG) which will be used to power the city's fleet of CNG waste trucks.
PRESS RELEASE
September 20, 2012
Surrey to Build Largest Organics Biofuel Facility in Canada
The City of Surrey and the Federal Government announced today a public-private partnership to build a new organics biofuel facility in Surrey.
The 80,000 metric tonne per year facility will help the City and Metro Vancouver achieve the regional 70 per cent waste diversion target by 2015.
"Surrey's new organics biofuel facility will establish a new benchmark in Canada and provide environmental benefits to the entire region. It will help us reduce emissions, create viable new energy infrastructure, divert waste from the landfill, and become more sustainable in our operations," says Mayor Dianne Watts. She adds it will be the largest of its kind in the country.
The facility will process residential and commercial kitchen and yard waste into a renewable fuel. It will be located on City-owned land in Port Kells adjacent to the Surrey Transfer Station.
Once the facility is operating, Surrey will be home to the only fully-integrated organics waste management system in North America. The system includes curbside organics collection, an entire fleet of compressed natural gas waste collection trucks, and a facility to process organics into fuel which will be used to power the waste trucks.
"Canada needs to invest in modern and green infrastructure projects to be a world leader today and in the future. Our Government believes that public-private partnerships can build public infrastructure faster and provide better value for taxpayers' dollars," said Ms. Grewal. "This new facility will deliver a long-term, modern approach to solid waste management that is environmentally responsible, sustainable and safe for all surrounding communities."
The City collects waste from approximately 100,000 homes. Based on recent studies, Surrey has concluded that approximately 65% of its residential garbage is comprised of organic waste that could be diverted from the landfill.
The Government of Canada will contribute up to $16.9 million, 25 per cent of the project costs. A private partner will be chosen to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the facility in a long-term agreement. An open Request for Qualifications process is expected to be released by the City early in 2013, followed by a subsequent invitation to short-listed proponents to participate in a Request for Proposal in the spring of 2013.
For more information, contact:
Tara Foslien
Senior Communications Specialist
Office of the Mayor
604.375.4584
Mary Ann Dewey-Plante
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Finance
613.996.7861
Jack Aubry
Media Relations
Department of Finance
613.996.8080
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