Essex Windsor Solid Waste Authority (EWSWA) and Neighbouring Municipalities

As was noted above, and in accordance with the legislation, neighbouring Essex County municipalities have to provide some form of organics collection (not mandated to be curbside) with lower target levels or may have no requirements to do any form of food and organic waste diversion. The legislation imposes different requirements for different sized municipalities. Furthermore, Ontario’s 2018 Environment Plan proposes a ban on food waste from landfill, although there is no reference to the year in which the ban would be implemented or phased in. This proposed ban may place further pressure on area municipalities to adopt some form of food and organic waste collection.

In carrying out its obligations under the legislation, the municipality’s actions must be consistent with Ontario’s Food and Organic Waste Policy Statement (OFOWPS). The OFOWPS encourages municipalities and other planning authorities to pursue regional approaches to address food and organic waste resource recovery capacity needs. It further encourages municipalities to plan for the management and beneficial use of biosolids, including considering new and enhanced biosolids processing technologies and co-management practices that support volume minimization and nutrient recovery.

At its meeting October 6, 2020, EWSWA’s Board approved the development and implementation of a regional food and organic waste management plan and creation of a working group consisting of EWSWA, City of Windsor and County of Essex representation. The City would be responsible for all technical aspects of the plan development. Details of the structure of the working group will be reported to the EWSWA board at its next meeting.

The Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) is currently working with Windsor’s neighbouring municipalities to complete a Community Energy Plan. Energy and GHG reduction targets are expected to be greater than the City of Windsor’s targets. Comprehensive discussion is ongoing on the role of biofuels as a strategy within the County’s Community Energy Plan. It is recommended that extensive collaboration with neighbouring municipalities occurs with conversations including organics collections and biosolids management. As mentioned above, the legislation does not require all municipalities to provide curbside collection but they may be interested in matching the level of service of the City of Windsor. A number of municipalities also operate wastewater treatment plants (e.g. Amherstburg) who may also be looking for alternatives for managing their biosolids.

By-products and Marketability

Should the City choose to build and own a new facility it may be possible to realize revenue from end products produced by the various processing facilities: