Long-Term Capacity Planning

The process to amend the Durham York Energy Centre’s (DYEC) permitted processing capacity under the Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA) from the current 140,000 tonnes per year to 160,000 tonnes per year using existing facility equipment, is anticipated to be completed in 2020. This change will increase operating efficiency and provide an immediate increase to interim capacity which will reduce the amount of waste that must by-pass the facility and be sent directly to landfill.

The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) has confirmed that it will consider Durham’s request to amend the DYEC’s permitted annual capacity to 160,000 tonnes per year if the Region also identifies its longer-term capacity needs. Following Council approval in 2019, staff has initiated the process to draft Terms of Reference document for future Environmental Assessment process to support an eventual physical expansion of the DYEC to 250,000 tonnes per year.