Kirkland Lake proposes composting facility.

Kirkland Lake town officials are pitching a waste diversion proposal to the City of Toronto to build a composting plant at the Adams Mines landfill.

The proposal, known as Enviroganic: 2010 Waste Diversion Partnership, would see the town invest more than $15 million to team up with mine owners Notre Development and some undisclosed partners to provide 25,000 tonnes of composting services yearly to Toronto. The services would be provided at no cost for 20 years as part of an integrated composting and waste disposal system. The plant would create 90 jobs.

The City of Toronto is in negotiations with other landfill contractors and has not yet accepted the Kirkland Lake deal. The city's works committee meets in early September to examine proposals and is expected to make a decision in October.

Town officials believe the enviroganic partnership will save Toronto over $70 million in composting and the disposal of Toronto's waste at the landfill.

In a press release, Kirkland Lake mayor Bill Enouy said this revised environmentally friendly proposal should rate serious consideration with the city given the fiscal challenges they are facing.

"Our way also helps Toronto avoid the risks associated with sending their garbage to an unwilling host in Michigan," Enouy said.

The town's waste resources opportunities corporation (WROC), an agency which promotes and administers funds for research, education and development in the waste management industry, has thrown their support behind the proposal.

"The Adams Mine landfill has always been a good idea," says WROC vice-chair George Duncan. "This addition to the project is a tremendous opportunity for Toronto to move toward their diversion targets but, more important, for northeastern Ontario to be on the cutting edge of diversion technology in a viable and growing industry."