Energy-from-Waste Facility

Covanta Burnaby Renewable Energy, Inc.
Burnaby, British Columbia (BC)

Burnaby Waste-to-Energy Facility, operating as Covanta Burnaby, began commercial operation in February 1988 serving Metro Vancouver. The facility is located in the commercial/industrial area of South Burnaby, British Columbia and processes approximately 25 percent of Metro Vancouver’s garbage, mainly from the North Shore, Burnaby and New Westminster. Every year, approximately 285,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste is converted into 940,000 tonnes of steam and up to 140 gigawatt hours of electricity, providing both economic and environmental benefits. A portion of this steam is sold to a nearby paper recycling facility, helping eliminate the use of fossil fuels. In 2006, a $7 million upgrade was completed to increase the amount of heat recovered from the waste and electricity produced. The steam revenue and electrical sales offset the operational costs of Metro Vancouver’s solid waste management system.

Technical Data

Facility Address:

5150 Riverbend Dr.
Burnaby, British Columbia V3N 4V3
(604) 521-1025

Site:

5 acres owned by Metro Vancouver

Commercial Operation:

March 1988

Energy-from-Waste System:

Three Martin mass burn boilers

Boiler Design:

525 psig/662°F superheater outlet conditions

Air Pollution Control Equipment:

Flakt Dry Absorption Reactor & Flakt Pulse Jet Baghouse

Rated Refuse Capacity:

850 tons per day

Steam Customer:

Norampac Paper

Steam Export Capacity:

960 tonnes per day

Energy Generation @ Rated Capacity:

140 gigawatt hours of electricity

Sold to:

British Columbia Hydro