The Sustane Technologies facility in Chester, Nova Scotia is the first of its kind and transforms municipal solid waste into biomass pellets, diesel fuel and recyclable metals.
Whitewater Region has agreed to send waste to a new processing plant that is expected to be built in McNab/Braeside. A memorandum of understanding was signed as part of the June 22nd, council meeting in Whitewater Region.
The new plant would be operated by Sustane Technologies and take byproducts such as kitchen waste and recyclables and turn it into bio fertilizer and fuel products such as diesel. The goal is to increase recycling rates and provide a cost competitive alternative to landfills.
Sustane Technologies has been planning this waste diversion facility in Renfrew County since 2019. The company has said they don’t want to be a threat to local landfills such as the Ottawa Valley Waste Recovery Centre.
The memorandum of understanding between Whitewater Region and McNab/Braeside doesn’t come with any financial commitments, but the details of the agreement would see the two municipalities work together over the next year to try and reach a formal agreement.
McNab/Braeside Mayor Tom Peckett is hopeful the facility will be built in the next two to three years, but says that will only happen if the majority of municipalities in Renfrew and Lanark Counties agree to send kitchen waste and recyclables to McNab/Braeside.
Back in May, Peckett presented to Petawawa council asking the town to send kitchen waste to the new plant in his municipality. At the time, Town Councillor and Vice-Chair of the Ottawa Valley Waste Recovery Centre Tom Mohns said if they wanted to send materials down to McNab/Braeside, they would have to break a collection contract extending to 2025.
(written by: Rudy Kadlec)
