SusGlobal Energy’s solution enables the production of both biogas and a high-quality fertiliser from organic waste streams. The scalable solution has significant environmental benefits, helping prevent harmful methane emissions from landfills while creating a renewable source of fuel and natural fertiliser.

The impending implementation of cap and trade systems and methane accounting for municipalities in Canada acted as catalyst. Growing public and academic recognition of the negative effects of landfilling organic waste have also facilitated the company’s journey. The company has established strong relationships with municipalities, who purchase SusGlobal’s services once the municipality initiates a biowaste sorting and collection system.

Problem

Currently, organic waste is seldom sorted from other types of waste in North America. Implementing the necessary sorting infrastructure, such as organic waste bins, collection vehicles, composting facilities and anaerobic digestion machines, along with changing consumer behaviour, is a significant investment. In the meantime organic waste ends up in landfills across North America, where it releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas, as it breaks down. On top of this, the organic matter’s embedded nutrients go to waste.

Solution

SusGlobal Energy uses their proprietary technology to turn organic waste into a high-quality dry compost and liquid bio-fertiliser. The company works with municipalities that already have organic waste collection processes or are interested in implementing one. SusGlobal collects the organic waste stream from the municipalities and produces regenerated products, such as nutrient-rich organic compost or organic pathogen-free liquid fertilisers. The municipalities, who must normally pay a fee for sending the waste to landfill, instead pay SusGlobal to collect and process the organic waste, diverting it from the landfill.

Salvaging the value of a waste stream for use in another sector is a core tenet of circular economy thinking. To raise awareness about this approach, SusGlobal Energy is active in their relationships with local municipalities, who are their key partners. Large landfill companies also collaborate with the company when synergies are identified.

Environmental impacts

This company supports the diversion of organic waste from landfills, which prevents emissions of methane, which is 28 times more potent a greenhouse gas than CO2. The resulting organic compost and pathogen-free liquid fertiliser provides nutrients to the environment, and the slurry produced helps optimise biogas production.

Social impacts

In addition to the employment generated, the company supports communities living close to landfills by reducing the amount of organic waste in the area. Moreover, communities that participate in organic waste recycling systems become more conscious of sustainability matters. The company also supports small municipalities and subsidises bags or containers for collection when needed.