Green Lane landfill
Encyclopedia
The Green Lane landfill is a landfill
near London
, Ontario
in Canada
. It is owned by the City of Toronto
.
It operates a leachate
collection system and an on-site leachate treatment plant. Green Lane also has an extensive landfill gas
collection system. This gas is roughly 50 per cent methane
and 50 per cent carbon dioxide
, along with traces of other gases. Currently the gas is collected and directed to the flaring system
that allows for release into the air.
, neared capacity during the 1990s, it was found that no other municipality in Southern Ontario
was willing to accept the garbage, but there was also no political support for a change to incineration
. A deal was eventually made to ship Toronto's garbage to the Adams Mine
, an abandoned open pit mine in Northern Ontario
, once the Keele Valley site closed. But objections grew into vociferous controversy as the time neared, and eventually the agreement was canceled.
By the time the Keele Valley site closed at the end of 2002, the city had made a new deal: its garbage is now shipped by truck to a site in Michigan
(See Carleton Farms Landfill
).
In September 2006, Toronto City Council
agreed to purchase the privately owned Green Lane landfill site near London, Ontario
. The contract to ship household garbage to Michigan is due to end in 2010 when the Green Lane landfill will be used. Jane Pitfield
who ran (and lost) against Mayor Miller
in the November 2006 election has advocated incineration as an alternative method of disposing of waste. This is opposed by many Toronto environmental groups but supported by others who point out that the technology has improved and incineration is now less polluting.
Concerns with the border, and opposition from residents in Michigan prompted the need to look for alternate sites or expand the city's recycling
programs. Toronto's contract with Michigan lasts until 2008, and includes an option to expand to 2010, but the city is actively seeking options to close the contract sooner. Even the current contract could be in jeopardy following a vote in February 2006 by the Michigan House of Representatives to ban out-of-state garbage from being shipped to the state from Ontario and other U.S. states, but this requires approval by the US federal government before it can be enforced by Michigan. In May 2006, Carelton Farms, the garbage dump in Michigan that is under contract with the city of Toronto announced it would not be accepting waste sludge as of August 1, 2006, but would continue to receive household waste.
Even with 60% diversion through the green bin and recycling programs, residual waste from the Greater Toronto Area
would amass 2,200 tonnes (2,425 tons) a day or 800,000 tonnes (882,000 tons) a year.
In September 2006, city council approved an agreement to ship Toronto garbage to the Green Lane Waste Facility near St. Thomas, Ontario
. Councillors opposed to the agreement have accused Mayor Miller of pushing through a secretive deal and there has also been strong reaction from residents and MPs from the London-St. Thomas area.
In April 2007, the city signed contracts with First Nations
bands whose reserves were close to the proposed landfill, which would entitle the bands to $4.27 per tonne of garbage deposited at the landfill, or approximately $500,000 per year.
Landfill
A landfill site , is a site for the disposal of waste materials by burial and is the oldest form of waste treatment...
near London
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It is owned by the City of Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
.
It operates a leachate
Leachate
Leachate is any liquid that, in passing through matter, extracts solutes, suspended solids or any other component of the material through which it has passed....
collection system and an on-site leachate treatment plant. Green Lane also has an extensive landfill gas
Landfill gas
Landfill gas is a complex mix of different gases created by the action of microorganisms within a landfill.-Production:Landfill gas production results from chemical reactions and microbes acting upon the waste as the putrescible materials begins to break down in the landfill...
collection system. This gas is roughly 50 per cent methane
Methane
Methane is a chemical compound with the chemical formula . It is the simplest alkane, the principal component of natural gas, and probably the most abundant organic compound on earth. The relative abundance of methane makes it an attractive fuel...
and 50 per cent carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom...
, along with traces of other gases. Currently the gas is collected and directed to the flaring system
Gas flare
A gas flare, alternatively known as a flare stack, is an elevated vertical conveyance found accompanying the presence of oil wells, gas wells, rigs, refineries, chemical plants, natural gas plants, and landfills....
that allows for release into the air.
History and politics
As the city's last remaining landfill site, Keele ValleyKeele Valley Landfill
The Keele Valley Landfill was the largest landfill in Canada and the third largest in North America during its operation. It was the primary landfill site for the City of Toronto and the regional municipalities of York and Durham from 1983 until 2002, and was owned and operated by the City of Toronto...
, neared capacity during the 1990s, it was found that no other municipality in Southern Ontario
Southern Ontario
Southern Ontario is a region of the province of Ontario, Canada that lies south of the French River and Algonquin Park. Depending on the inclusion of the Parry Sound and Muskoka districts, its surface area would cover between 14 to 15% of the province. It is the southernmost region of...
was willing to accept the garbage, but there was also no political support for a change to incineration
Incineration
Incineration is a waste treatment process that involves the combustion of organic substances contained in waste materials. Incineration and other high temperature waste treatment systems are described as "thermal treatment". Incineration of waste materials converts the waste into ash, flue gas, and...
. A deal was eventually made to ship Toronto's garbage to the Adams Mine
Adams Mine
Adams Mine is an abandoned open pit iron ore mine located in the Boston Township of the District of Timiskaming, south of Kirkland Lake in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is situated on the Canadian Shield....
, an abandoned open pit mine in Northern Ontario
Northern Ontario
Northern Ontario is a region of the Canadian province of Ontario which lies north of Lake Huron , the French River and Lake Nipissing. The region has a land area of 802,000 km2 and constitutes 87% of the land area of Ontario, although it contains only about 6% of the population...
, once the Keele Valley site closed. But objections grew into vociferous controversy as the time neared, and eventually the agreement was canceled.
By the time the Keele Valley site closed at the end of 2002, the city had made a new deal: its garbage is now shipped by truck to a site in Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
(See Carleton Farms Landfill
Carleton Farms Landfill
The Carleton Farms Landfill is located in Sumpter Township of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan.The landfill sits on of property and has a solid waste boundary of . It is owned by Republic Services Inc., and is about west of Detroit...
).
In September 2006, Toronto City Council
Toronto City Council
The Toronto City Council is the governing body of the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.Members represent wards throughout the city, and are known as councillors....
agreed to purchase the privately owned Green Lane landfill site near London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
. The contract to ship household garbage to Michigan is due to end in 2010 when the Green Lane landfill will be used. Jane Pitfield
Jane Pitfield
Jane Pitfield was a Toronto city councillor, representing one of the two Don Valley West wards. She ran unsuccessfully for Mayor of Toronto in 2006.-Personal life:...
who ran (and lost) against Mayor Miller
David Miller (Canadian politician)
David Raymond Miller is a Canadian politician. He was the 63rd Mayor of Toronto and the second since the 1998 amalgamation. He was elected to the position in 2003 for a three-year term and re-elected in 2006 for a four-year term...
in the November 2006 election has advocated incineration as an alternative method of disposing of waste. This is opposed by many Toronto environmental groups but supported by others who point out that the technology has improved and incineration is now less polluting.
Concerns with the border, and opposition from residents in Michigan prompted the need to look for alternate sites or expand the city's recycling
Recycling
Recycling is processing used materials into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution and water pollution by reducing the need for "conventional" waste disposal, and lower greenhouse...
programs. Toronto's contract with Michigan lasts until 2008, and includes an option to expand to 2010, but the city is actively seeking options to close the contract sooner. Even the current contract could be in jeopardy following a vote in February 2006 by the Michigan House of Representatives to ban out-of-state garbage from being shipped to the state from Ontario and other U.S. states, but this requires approval by the US federal government before it can be enforced by Michigan. In May 2006, Carelton Farms, the garbage dump in Michigan that is under contract with the city of Toronto announced it would not be accepting waste sludge as of August 1, 2006, but would continue to receive household waste.
Even with 60% diversion through the green bin and recycling programs, residual waste from the Greater Toronto Area
Greater Toronto Area
The Greater Toronto Area is the largest metropolitan area in Canada, with a 2006 census population of 5.5 million. The Greater Toronto Area is usually defined as the central city of Toronto, along with four regional municipalities surrounding it: Durham, Halton, Peel, and York...
would amass 2,200 tonnes (2,425 tons) a day or 800,000 tonnes (882,000 tons) a year.
In September 2006, city council approved an agreement to ship Toronto garbage to the Green Lane Waste Facility near St. Thomas, Ontario
St. Thomas, Ontario
St. Thomas is a city in southern , Ontario, Canada. It is the seat for Elgin County and gained its city charter on March 4, 1881.-History:...
. Councillors opposed to the agreement have accused Mayor Miller of pushing through a secretive deal and there has also been strong reaction from residents and MPs from the London-St. Thomas area.
In April 2007, the city signed contracts with First Nations
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
bands whose reserves were close to the proposed landfill, which would entitle the bands to $4.27 per tonne of garbage deposited at the landfill, or approximately $500,000 per year.
See also
- Keele Valley LandfillKeele Valley LandfillThe Keele Valley Landfill was the largest landfill in Canada and the third largest in North America during its operation. It was the primary landfill site for the City of Toronto and the regional municipalities of York and Durham from 1983 until 2002, and was owned and operated by the City of Toronto...
in Vaughan, OntarioVaughan, OntarioVaughan is a city in York Region north of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Vaughan is the fastest growing municipality in Canada achieving a population growth rate of 80.2% between 1996–2006, according to Statistics Canada having nearly doubled in population since 1991. Vaughan is located in Southern...
closed 2002 with some parts converted to other uses - Brock Road LandfillsBrock Road LandfillsBrock Road Landfills are a series of landfills used by Toronto from 1975 to 1990s. The North and West site are in Pickering, while the South site is in Ajax....
- located near Pickering, OntarioPickering, OntarioPickering is a city located in Southern Ontario, Canada immediately east of Toronto in Durham Region. It is part of the Greater Toronto Area, the largest metropolitan area in Canada.- Early Period :...
and Ajax, OntarioAjax, OntarioAjax is a town in the Durham Region in the Greater Toronto Area.The town is named for the HMS Ajax a Royal Navy cruiser that served in World War II. Ajax is a part of the Greater Toronto Area and the...
and was landfill site for the City of Toronto's garbage from 1975 to late 1990s - Beare Road LandfillBeare Road LandfillThe Beare Road Landfill was a landfill that operated in Scarborough, Ontario until 1983. The site is bounded by Finch Avenue East to the north, the Toronto-Pickering Town Line to the east, CN Rail line to the west and hydro corridor to the south....
- located in northeast Toronto and closed 1983 and now part of Rouge ParkRouge ParkRouge Park will become an urban national park located along the border of Toronto and Pickering, Ontario, Canada. It will be Canada's first national park within a municipality.... - Carleton Farms LandfillCarleton Farms LandfillThe Carleton Farms Landfill is located in Sumpter Township of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan.The landfill sits on of property and has a solid waste boundary of . It is owned by Republic Services Inc., and is about west of Detroit...
- located in Michigan and took Toronto's garbage from 2002 to 2006