Waste Management broke ground on a new plant to convert methane gas into energy at its Carp landfill site Friday.
If all goes according to plan, the plant could produce enough energy to power 6,400 homes by this fall.
The plan is to use the natural gas that garbage produces to create energy. As garbage rots, it produces a methane gas that flares off, which can be converted into electricity.
"We're not using up natural resources (like) coal, natural gas, oil, those types of things. It's free energy that we can get. The landfills are producing the gas, why not harness it and use it for a good cause?" said Ross Wallace of Waste Management.
Local politicians are saying the plan is an innovative way to produce a clean form of energy.
"Methane gas is very potent, much more potent than carbon. It's exciting to see this great environmental project here in Ottawa," said John Baird, environment minister and MP for Ottawa West-Nepean.
Councillor Eli El-Chantiry says power production is better than just flaring off methane.
"They're taking it out right now. Mixing it with some propane and flaring it in the atmosphere. I'd rather see it captured and converted to energy," said El-Chantiry.
The Waste Management plant will be the second in Ottawa to turn garbage into power.
Plasco Energy Group's plasma gasification plant at the Trail Road facility went into operation earlier this year. That plant converts garbage into a synthetic fuel that is then burned for energy.
"There are many different kinds of technologies to reduce greenhouse gasses and what we want to do is unleash the power of the market. Unleash the power of entrepreneurship in the fight against global warming and this is certainly a great way to do it as is that one," said Baird.
With a report from CTV's Normal Fetterley
