Enbridge Gas, Ontario Waste Management Association, announce RNG pilot project

Enbridge Gas Inc., in agreement with the Ontario Waste Management Association (OWMA), is thrilled to announce a pilot project to use low-carbon renewable natural gas (RNG) in waste collection vehicles across Ontario. RNG is a carbon-neutral fuel source that presents a tremendous opportunity to help Ontario reach its greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets.

Currently, more than 40 per cent of Ontario’s waste sector expenditures are related to transportation costs, which are expected to increase. While the sector has made significant contributions to sustainability by supporting waste diversion efforts there is room to build on that success and continue investing in a green future.

With a fleet of 3,650 waste collection and haulage vehicles in Ontario that consume about 130 million litres of diesel per year, there is a significant opportunity to reduce emissions by transitioning the industry to low-carbon renewable fuels.

RNG is an affordable, safe and reliable alternative clean energy fuel that leverages existing natural gas infrastructure. Because it can be powered by waste, it has the added bonus of diverting waste from landfills, and in some cases resulting in carbon-negative emissions, which contributes to the creation of a circular economy.

The steady and accelerating growth of RNG production in Ontario enables industry organizations like OWMA to demonstrate leadership in displacing diesel and supports its vision to collaborate with community stakeholders to advance best practices in waste management. For example, this RNG opportunity will enable existing gas-fuelled waste vehicles to attain near zero emissions and will enable existing fleets to attain a total of 56,000 tonnes of annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions in Ontario—roughly equivalent to removing 12,000 passenger cars off the road each year.

An ambitious agenda to increase the use of RNG in the transportation of waste could result in a significant annual reduction of 440,000 tonnes of GHG emissions—roughly equivalent to removing 100,000 passenger cars off the road each year—and Ontario’s waste industry is poised to lead the country in the effort to green the heavy transportation sector.

“Renewable natural gas is now playing a role in Ontario’s shift to lower–carbon, sustainable energy solutions. It is an important example of the investments Enbridge Gas is making across multiple markets to green the natural gas grid, while continuing to meet the demand for safe, reliable and affordable energy. We are proud to have provided early support to this pilot that is changing the face of the industry and contributing to the decarbonization of one of Ontario’s highest emitting sectors,” said Malini Giridhar, VP, business development & regulatory, Enbridge Gas Inc.