Walker - Project Sunrise

The South Landfill plays a key role at Walker’s Resource Management Campus which takes an innovative and integrated approach to resource recovery, renewable energy, and waste management. Walker has safely managed waste from across Niagara for over 40 years, however our current South Landfill is running out of capacity and has approximately 8 years left. Developing the next phase of South Landfill (Phase2) will ensure Niagara continues to have a safe and reliable waste disposal solution.

Phase 2 of the South Landfill envisions a continuation of the existing operations. The operational footprint will shift to the east of the existing footprint, however most aspects like site activities, the site entrance and operating hours will not change.

At Walker, resource recovery is a top priority which means we are continuously innovating and investing in solutions to help reduce, reuse, and recycle what society throws out. However, some waste cannot be reused or recycled and must be safely managed in a landfill. The South Landfill manages the majority of Niagara’s waste, but it’s running out of capacity. Niagara also continues to grow. Walker is proposing to develop the next phase of the South Landfill so that Niagara and surrounding communities can continue to have access to a local, safe and reliable waste disposal option.

Walker has responsibly managed waste from across Niagara for over 40 years and is committed to continue providing local waste management and disposal solutions for businesses and residents who rely on local services. The South Landfill is highly engineered with exceptional safety and environmental controls, and Phase 2 would be no different.

Ontario is running out of landfill capacity and Niagara is no different. Despite advances in recycling, there are still materials that cannot be recycled, and landfills are a safe option to manage these materials. Additionally, as Ontario’s population grows, so does the amount of waste that is generated.

The province is expected to run out of landfill space by 2034 if more landfill capacity is not planned and constructed (OWMA, 2021). Today, approximately one third of Ontario’s waste is exported to the US which increases costs to Ontario taxpayers, reduces job opportunities and trucking contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.

Ontario has some of the most stringent environmental regulations in North America. Additionally, the waste management sector is highly regulated by the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (Ministry) to ensure that modern landfills are engineered, state-of-the-art, and fully protective of the environment. As an example, our South Landfill has a multi-layered liner that is over 3.6 metre (12 feet) thick that creates a safe barrier between the landfill and the natural environment. Other examples include requirements to capture any methane generated at the site, to conduct ongoing water monitoring which is reported to the Ministry and to communicate results to the public in a transparent manner.

As part of the approval process for the development of the next phase of the South Landfill, numerous scientific studies will occur over the coming years. This rigorous process will inform the community, Walker and the Ministry on how to safely and responsibly manage the community’s waste.

In addition to providing a safe and reliable solution to manage societies’ waste, landfills offer several other benefits. As an example, Walker’s South Landfill is a significant source of renewable energy in the Niagara Region. As organic matter in the landfill breaks down, methane is created. Walker has captured this renewable source of methane for over 20 years and used it to power local industries and communities. Currently, methane from the landfill is delivered the nearby GM Propulsion Plant in St. Catharines where it is used to power and heat the facility.

Additionally, the South Landfill plays a key role in Walker’s Resource Management Campus, which is an integral part of Niagara’s waste management infrastructure. Walker partners with the Region of Niagara to provide recycling, resource recovery and disposal services including:

– Residential Curbside Green Bin Program of food waste and leaf and yard brush,

– Residential Curbside Collection

– Municipal Biosolids

– Residential drop-off services to serve the public.

Lastly, Walker is one of Niagara’s largest private employers. There are many career and job opportunities that are supported by the Resource Management Campus.