Sarnia-Lambton wants to be a leader in future waste diversion.
Comet BioRefining is working with Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC) to attract a community anaerobic digestion facility.
BIC Executive Director Sandy Marshall says the processing plant would convert organic waste to renewable natural gas.
"Comet obviously needs a solution for their wastewater, so that's why it's a priority for them," says Marshall. "For BIC, our focus is around developing a collaborative community solution with all the various stakeholders. So, that's why BIC is actively involved, to try and make it bigger than just a one company solution."
Comet's manufacturing plant on Sarnia's TransAlta site uses corn stover and wheat straw to produce high-purity cellulosic sugar that can be used to manufacture plastics, lubricants, paints and other forms of bio-based products.
But, Marshall says green bin waste or food disposed of by grocery stores could also be used.
"There are companies who broker these materials so they are readily available on the market," he says. "The materials could come from cities or it could come from other sources like food processing plants, where the by-products need to be handled. Those become great feedstocks."
Marshall says proposals for the project, estimated to cost as much as $30-million, are being accepted until the end of this month.
"With an anaerobic digester here, it's just one more selling point for Sarnia-Lambton and the hybrid chemistry cluster," he says.
