Calgary Composting Facility expansion breaks ground
New construction will begin on the Calgary Composting Facility Monday, in a move to meet the needs of the growing city.
A ground breaking ceremony took place this morning at the facility on 68 Street SE, inside the Shepard Waste Management Facility.
The city says Calgarians have embraced and used the green cart program since it was introduced in 2017.
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“Since its inception in 2017, Calgarians have demonstrated their remarkable commitment to reducing landfill waste by embracing our Green Cart program,” said Tanner Fellinger, manager of process infrastructure delivery – utilities delivery with the City of Calgary. “With our city rapidly growing along with Calgarians’ desire to compost, this expansion ensures our city remains at the forefront of sustainable waste management practices.
“Today’s groundbreaking is a demonstration of the hard work and commitment of the utilities delivery and waste and recycling services teams collaborating to make this important project a reality.”
An additional 60,000 tonnes per year of single family residential food and yard waste will be processed following the expansion of the city, according to the city. This will bring the facility’s total capacity to 160,000 tonnes.
The city explains the expansion will also introduce new technology to the facility in the form of an anaerobic digestion system, which will allow the facility to process more material while generating and capturing biogas, resulting in lowered greenhouse gas emissions.
Mayor Jyoti Gondek says this project contributes to Calgary’s climate initiatives.
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“The composting facility expansion is a testament to Calgary’s innovative spirit and commitment to sustainability,” she said. “As we enhance our waste management capabilities and integrate cutting-edge technologies, we are propelling Calgary towards a greener future and reinforcing our role as a leader in this field. Together, we are building a legacy of sustainability that will empower Calgarians today and well into the future.”
It adds this expansion will support Calgarians’ use of the green cart program and continued population growth.
The city says the $89.6 million project is funded in part by Environment and Climate Change Canada, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), and Natural Resources Canada.
Construction began in April and is expected to be completed in late 2025.
