Organic waste processor CCI BioEnergy has signed a multi-year master service agreement with Arcadis to provide engineering and detailed design services.

The companies also announced that the first project under the arrangement will include preliminary and detailed design work for the pre-treatment and part of the anaerobic digestion process for the expansion of the City of Toronto's Disco Road Organics Processing Facility.

The Disco Road facility currently processes approximately 75,000 metric tonnes of post-consumer organic waste annually through Toronto's Green Bin program. This type of waste is typically collected in plastic and biodegradable bags and includes organics such as food waste, diapers, incontinence materials, and pet waste.

As part of the city's expansion initiative, the facility is set to increase its processing capacity to 125,000 metric tonnes annually, with a peak load capacity of 140,000 tonnes per year.

Arcadis will design of part of the framework to increase the facility's processing capacity.

Upon arrival at the facility, organic waste is sorted to remove non-organic materials and enters the anaerobic digestion system, which converts the waste into biogas and digester solids. These outputs are then reprocessed into renewable natural gas or transformed into compost materials used in the agriculture sector, with the treated wastewater discharged into the city's wastewater system.

"We're incredibly proud to be working with CCI BioEnergy as this partnership represents a meaningful investment in the future of sustainable organics management in Toronto," said René de Vries, Client Development Director, Arcadis. "The collaboration with CCI BioEnergy on pre-and post-consumer organic waste, mixed waste, and sludge treatment will create a framework with advanced technologies that can be adapted to municipalities and wastewater systems across Canada and the United States."

Arcadis' work with CCI BioEnergy on the preliminary and detailed design work for the pre-treatment and part of the anaerobic digestion process began on January 8.

Construction timelines, project milestones, and additional work under the master service agreement will be announced as the partnership progresses.