Energy-from-Waste Facility

Covanta Burnaby Renewable Energy, ULC
Burnaby, British Columbia (BC)

The Metro Vancouver Waste-to-Energy Facility, operating as Covanta Burnaby Renewable Energy, began commercial operation in March 1988. The facility is located in the commercial/industrial area of south Burnaby, British Columbia and processes approximately 25 percent of Metro Vancouver’s post-recycled waste, 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 170,000 MWh of electricity, providing both economic and environmental benefits. About 9,000 tonnes per year of recycled metal is recovered at the facility.In 2006, a $7 million upgrade was completed to increase the amount of heat recovered from the waste and this in turn increased the quantity of electricity produced. In 2013 a $4.2 million upgrade on the air-cooled condensers is being installed, further increasing the quantity of electricity being produced. The electrical sales revenue offsets 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 GmbH 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

Energy Generation @ Rated Capacity:

170,000 MWh of electricity per year

Sold to:

British Columbia Hydro