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Whitby, Ont. – The Regional Municipality of Durham has received confirmation from the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) that the scope of work for phase one of the abatement plan has been completed. The MOECC has given Covanta, the operator of the Durham York Energy Centre (DYEC), approval to proceed with phase two of the abatement plan and initiate the restart of boiler #1. Boiler #1 will be started using natural gas to bring the combustion chamber
temperature up to 1,000 degrees Celsius, which normally takes approximately eight hours. Once the boiler has reached 1,000 degrees Celsius, waste will be gradually introduced until self-sustained combustion can be achieved with only the waste.

Phase 2 of the abatement plan includes restarting boiler #1, for further testing, inspections and monitoring of several operating parameters, which will provide additional insight into the conditions that created the dioxins and furans exceedance. The abatement plan will only be considered complete with the successful completion of a new source test.

Emissions monitoring data is streamed in real time and posted online at the project website (www.durhamyorkwaste.ca), and on a large electronic board outside of the visitor’s centre.
Environmental reports, as well as a comprehensive overview of the facility and answers to frequently asked questions are also available online.

Residents who would like to receive email notifications whenever new documents are posted to the Durham York Energy Centre project website are encouraged to sign up on the project website. To register for these email updates, when new documents are posted to the website, please submit your email address through the subscribe section of the project website https://www.durhamyorkwaste.ca/Home/Subscribe.aspx.

The Durham York Energy Centre, located in Courtice, is Durham Region’s primary long-term disposal option for waste and only processes the household waste remaining after Durham and York Regions’ aggressive composting, recycling and reuse programs. Both regions are leaders in waste diversion with diversion rates consistently above 50 per cent. For more information on the Durham York Energy Centre, visit www.durhamyorkwaste.ca, call 1-800-667-5671, or email info@durhamyorkwaste.ca.

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The Regional Municipality of Durham:
Corporate Communications Office
905-668-7711 or CorporateCommunications@durham.ca