Saskatoon residents can expect some odour from city landfill as gas well project expands
The city says there may be some odour emanating from the landfill in the coming weeks as crews dig new gas wells and piping to collect more methane from decomposing waste.
According to the City of Saskatoon, there are currently about five million tonnes of waste at the landfill. Since 2014, the city has tapped this heaping mass of municipal garbage to draw out the methane, burning it to generate electricity.
The system currently produces enough energy to power 1,200 homes every year and generates about $1.3 million in revenue for the city through the sale of power to SaskPower, the city said in a news release on Monday.
When organic waste decomposes underground, in the absence of oxygen, it creates gas that’s almost equal parts carbon dioxide and methane, a highly potent greenhouse gas.
Burning the methane produces carbon dioxide, which is 25 times less harmful to the atmosphere than methane.
The city says its current wells are responsible for reducing over 50,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas produced by the landfill every year.
A map of the current methane collection sites at the Saskatoon landfill. (Courtesy: City of Saskatoon)This expansion, which is expected to take six weeks to complete, could bring that total up to 80,000 tonnes.
The work will have no impact on air quality and won’t pose a health risk to residents, the city says.
To tap the gas, the city says workers cap a section of the landfill with clay, drill vertical wells into the waste and connect them with underground piping.
Vacuum compressors then capture the gas and pipe it to a station where it’s either combusted in a flare or piped to the power generation facility.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Freeland previews omnibus budget bill, proposed capital gains tax change left out
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will be tabling yet another omnibus bill to pass a sweeping range of measures promised in her April 16 federal budget, though left out of the legislation is the government's proposed capital gains tax change.
Man dies after suffering cardiac arrest while waiting in ER, widow wants investigation
When an ambulance took David Lippert to the hospital in March of 2023, the 68-year-old Kitchener, Ont., executive was hoping to find out why he was feeling weak and unable to walk. Some 24 hours later, he was found unresponsive in the ER.
Baby, grandparents among 4 people killed in wrong-way police chase on Ontario's Hwy. 401
A police chase which started with a liquor store robbery in Bowmanville Monday night ended in tragedy some 20 minutes later when a suspect fleeing police entered Highway 401 in the wrong direction and caused a pileup which killed an infant and the child's grandparents, as well as the suspect, investigators say.
Air Canada walks back new seat selection policy change after backlash
Air Canada has paused a new seat selection fee for travellers booked on the lowest fares just days after implementing it.
McGill requests 'police assistance' over pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University says it has 'requested police assistance' about the pro-Palestinian encampment on its lower field.
Judge raises threat of jail in hush money trial as he holds Trump in contempt, fines him US$9,000
Donald Trump was held in contempt of court Tuesday and fined US$9,000 for repeatedly violating a gag order that barred him from making public statements about witnesses, jurors and some others connected to his New York hush money case. And if he does it again, the judge warned, he could be jailed.
Court upholds Milwaukee police officer's firing for posting racist memes after Sterling Brown arrest
The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that a former Milwaukee police officer was properly fired for posting racist memes related to the arrest of an NBA player that triggered a public outcry.
Video captures deadly wrong-way police chase on Highway 401 in Ontario
A new video has surfaced showing a vehicle being pursued by police in the wrong direction on Highway 401 moments prior to a fatal crash that killed four people, including an infant and their grandparents.
New cancer treatment approved, but not everyone thinks it's what's best for patients
A new cancer treatment recently approved in Canada promises to cut treatment time down to just minutes, but experts have differing opinions on whether it's what's best for patients.