Durham York and Covanta Energy are well on their way to reaching their 2014 goal to have the cleanest and most efficient waste-to-energy facility on the continent.
Covanta recently invited media on a hard hat tour of the build site for the Durham York Energy Centre in the Clarington Energy Park in Clarington, Ontario.
The $272-million facility is expected to process up to 140,000 tonnes of post recycled waste per year and generate enough renewable electricity to power between 12,000 and 14,000 homes, Covanta says.
The energy centre will also help Durham Region achieve their waste diversion target of 70 per cent.
The facility will create nearly 700 direct and indirect jobs during construction and more than 40 permanent plant operator jobs when the facility comes online late 2014.
The energy centre is designed by Toronto-based McMillan Associates Architects.
It was Durham’s decision in 1999 not to open new landfill sites in the region.