StormFisher increases processing capacity at food-waste diversion facility
Organic-waste processor StormFisher has completed the commissioning of a third anaerobic digester at its facility in London, making the plant the largest of its kind in the country.
The addition was made possible by StormFisher’s partnership with Generate Capital, a San-Francisco based sustainable-infrastructure company. The companies jointly own and operate the London plant.
The expansion means the plant can now repurpose food waste to provide heat to 2,500 homes in Ontario. The addition of a renewable natural gas (RNG) upgrading system also means the facility can support waste transport with sustainable fuel.
“Generate is thrilled to partner with StormFisher to build this additional capacity at the London facility,” said Bill Caesar, president of Generate’s waste-to-value business. “It’s critical to keep building smart, sustainable, circular and affordable waste management infrastructure like this to meet the challenges of the global climate crisis. This expands our ongoing commitment to be the leading provider of sustainable solutions for organic waste in North America.”
StormFisher began constructing the third anaerobic digester in 2020, which increases food waste intake capacity by 30 percent. The additional digester was built by Greatario, a company based out of Innerkip, Ontario that specializes in engineered storage systems.
The expanded StormFisher facility helps municipalities and businesses meet the requirements to divert waste from landfills in the Ontario Food and Organic Waste Policy. The provincial policy requires municipalities to implement green bin programs, initiating an organic waste diversion framework for food waste in the industrial, commercial and institutional sector.
“This new digester is part of our commitment to bringing innovative solutions for organic waste to market, and an exciting part of our growth in capabilities across waste collection, anaerobic digestion, biogas production and RNG upgrading,” said Pearce Fallis, vice president of operations at StormFisher.
StormFisher has also expanded its renewable energy offerings with a renewable natural gas upgrading system that provides energy for heat as well as transportation to customers in Canada – all from renewable, sustainable sources. StormFisher can produce 225,000 gigajoules of RNG – enough energy to displace over 6.2 million litres of diesel fuel.
StormFisher’s expansion is paving the way for economic development in London and the surrounding area. Already, the plant has attracted additional food processors to the area, supplying more jobs and growth to local communities.