Ottawa city council approved the 20-year garbage-processing deal with Plasco Energy Group. Here is information on the contract and details on Ottawa's trash situation.

What is Plasco Energy Group?

  • Plasco Energy Group was formed in April 2005 through amalgamation of two companies. The organization is identified as a waste treatment company that uses an environmentally friendly waste treatment process to quell the ever growing problem of residential, commercial, industrial and institutional waste. Its president, CEO and main spokesman is former Ottawa Senators owner Rod Bryden.

Who are the key players?

  • There are numerous people directly involved with negotiating this two-decade long deal. Besides Bryden, Coun. Maria McRae, who heads the city's environment committee, has been a large proponent of the deal. The environment committee approved the deal Monday by a vote of seven to one. The committee members are vice-chairman Scott Moffatt, David Chernushenko, Steve Desroches, Keith Egli, Mathieu Fleury, Peter Hume, Diane Holmes and Allan Hubley. Holmes was the only one who voted against the deal.

What are the details of the city's contract with Plasco?

  • The City of Ottawa and Plasco have agreed to a 20-year deal that calls for Plasco to take on 300 tonnes a day of residential waste at a cost of $83.25 per tonne to local taxpayers. The deal is contingent on Plasco completing construction of its waste-processing plant by 2016 and securing financing by 2013. Plasco has not yet proven their process can work at a large-scale commercial level, according to one business expert. If Plasco is unable to process the city's waste at any time after the fifth year of operations, then the city can reduce the amount of waste it sends.

What is 'plasma gasification process'?

  • Plasma gasification process is a waste treatment technology that uses electrical energy and the high temperatures created by an "electric arc gasifier" to break down waste, primarily into elemental gas and solid waste in a device called a plasma converter. The process is intended to be a net generator of electricity, depending upon the composition of input wastes, and to reduce the volumes of waste being sent to landfill sites.

What is Plasco's history with using this process?

  • Plasco has been testing its technology in Ottawa since firing up its Trail Road demonstration facility in 2007. There were delays in getting the facility up and running. Plasco has yet to prove it can take on the amount requested by the city. According to documents from the Ministry of Environment, Plasco has yet to process consecutive days at the rate outlined in the contract.

What is the situation at Ottawa's landfills?

  • The city is considering how to divert waste from its two main landfills as one could fill in six years, another 15 years after that. Waste Management Inc. is trying to convince the provincial government to reopen a Kanata landfill to commercial users. Residents are being asked to reduce household garbage and increase the amount of recycling.

What is the plan for garbage pick-up?