Fredericton Region Solid Waste Commission
The Fredericton Region Solid Waste Commission (FRSWC) is a waste management resource and environmental stewar
d for the region.
FRSWC: A Modern Sanitary Landfill
The Fredericton Region Solid Waste Commission operates a state-of-the-art sanitary landfill, the first of its kind in New Brunswick.
Opened in 1986, the FRSWC landfill remains one of the most environmentally advanced and economically efficient landfills in the province.
The FRSWC also launched its Landfill Gas Management System (LGMS) in 2006, the first of its kind in New Brunswick. The LGMS is designed to significantly reduce greenhouse gases generated through landfill garbage.
The FRSWC has led the way with such initiatives as its Recycling@Work program, the province's only curbside collection recycling program and a comprehensive household hazardous waste (HHW) program that operates four times a month. The FRSWC also hosts three remote HHW events each year, designed to allow regional customers the opportunity to properly dispose of harmful items.
A non-profit organization, the FRSWC operates on a tipping fee basis. The charge is based on weight determined by a weigh-in, weigh out process. The operation handles anywhere from 75,000,000 to 80,000,000 kilograms of solid waste annually.
The Benefits of Baling WasteIn 1993, the FRSWC became the first Atlantic Canadian regional waste commission to bale solid waste. The baling facility makes a significant contribution to the efficient and effective management of solid waste. Baling reduces the environmental impact of leachate, keeps the site clean by reducing and preventing blowing litter and helps extend the lifespan of the landfill.
Solid waste delivered to the FRSWC site is compacted into approximately 1,500-kg bales before it goes in the landfill. The bales are then taken to the landfill site and stacked in what are known as cells.
Approximately one hectare in size, a cell contains an average of 120,000 bales. Bales are added to cells daily and covered with clean soil. When the cell is full, it is covered with one metre of clay. Some 30 centimetres of topsoil is spread over the clay and seeded. The end result is a grass field sloped to aid runoff.
Regular Monitoring
These measures limit and manage leachate, a waste liquid created by rain and melting snow that percolates through the garbage.
The FRSWC regularly monitors surface and groundwater at the site to ensure all environmental protection systems are functioning properly. In addition, we operate a modern leachate system that includes a treatment lagoon.
All new landfill cells are lined underneath with a geomembrane and clay to prevent leachate from entering the groundwater. Pipes at the bottom of the cells collect the leachate and gravity pulls it to the treatment lagoon. The leached is then piped to the City of Fredericton's wastewater treatment facility and treated again before being safely released into the environment.
Interesting Facts
Products diverted in 2006
- Over 9,599 tonnes of material was diverted from the Fredericton Landfill
- 231 tonnes of metal was recycled
- 3,480 tonnes of construction and demolition material was kept out of the Fredericton Landfill
Common Questions on Recycled Items at FRSWC
Why does the FRSWC not recycle glass?
Glass is an inert material. It's made from silica sand and poses absolutely no threat to groundwater, surface water or soil. It produces no leachate, methane or CO2 emissions when landfilled.
- Glass represents approximately four per cent of the waste stream (paper, plastic and metals make up approximately 50 per cent). Typically, less than half of that amount would be captured through residential recycling programs. This means that a relatively small amount of material would be diverted from the landfill if glass were accepted in residential recycling programs.
- The FRSWC may gain two per cent diversion from glass, but the tonnage of recyclable paper, plastic and metals would decrease because of contamination, meaning the net benefit is very small or possibly non-existent.
- Incorporating glass into recycling programs requires a significant investment. If the net effect on diversion is very small, it is difficult to justify the added cost.
- The FRSWC sorts its recycled materials by hand. Glass would be a safety concern if part of the recycle stream.
Why isn't there centralized composting at the FRSWC?
- The FRSWC supports backyard composting.
- Backyard composting is environmentally friendly with no CO2 emissions.
- Source reduction eliminates emissions resulting from collection and transportation to landfills through vehicle traffic.
- The quality and consistency at home is much better than we could ever have at the landfill.
Why doesn't the FRSWC accept Styrofoam® for recycling?
- Styrofoam® (even though it may have a recycle symbol and number) is considered a contaminant and is advertised as a non-accepted item by the FRSWC.
- Styrofoam® is extremely costly to handle, sort and transport to market.
What box do I put my milk cartons in? Can I put in similar products like soy milk or orange juice cartons, too?
Milk cartons are made of fibre and wax and are recycled in your blue box. Yes, you can place similar products in your blue box.
What if a product has a recycle symbol on it, but doesn't have a number inside that symbol? 
- The FRSWC only recycles plastics with numbers one through seven inside the recycle symbol.
- Each number represents a certain type of plastic which allows the FRSWC to sort its materials in numerical fashion.
- The FRSWC will not accept unnumbered plastics due to the fact those materials have unknown substances as part of their makeup.
- The FRSWC also does not recycle any type of Styrofoam® regardless of a symbol or number.
What about fluorescent or regular lightbulbs? Why can't I recycle them?
- Lightbulbs fall under the glass restrictions at the FRSWC.
- Lightbulbs are not a recycled item due to health concerns and lack of a viable market.
Can I recycle batteries?
- The FRSWC will accept batteries at its on-site Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) depot or at region-wide HHW days.
- Alkaline batteries are safe to discard in your garbage.
- You can recycle batteries at Black's Photography and The Source by Circuit City in the Regent Mall.
- NiCad and Li batteries must be handled carefully to avoid fire risks.
FRSWC's Landfill Gas Management System: A New Brunswick First
The scientific approach may have been complex, but the end result wasn't for the Fredericton Region Solid Waste Commission.
With the construction and December, 2006, launch of the FRSWC's Landfill Gas Management System, a New Brunswick first was accomplished. The FRSWC, established in 1986, became the first provincial landfill site to build its own LGMS designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Faced with the reality of landfill gas emissions becoming a prevalent subject, the FRSWC initiated discussions over four years ago with its commission members. It was a case of tackling landfill gas emissions.
Concerned over eventual landfill gas odours, the FRSWC's commission members opened discussions on building a LGMS. Those initial discussions encompassed the FRSWC on being good stewards of its own landfill. It was an approach of creating a solution before a problem arose.
The necessary steps to a cleaner environment had been initiated after the commission approved its budget to accommodate a landfill gas management system (LGMS). That vision became reality with the completed construction of the LGMS. Key components of the system include a 40-foot tall steel flare structure and a skidmount blower.
With the commission showing tremendous interest in the LGMS, it has certainly been deemed a solid and wise investment when it comes to the $1.98-million price tag.
The LGMS system operates relatively simple despite its complex mechanisms.
Bio-degrading garbage in a landfill emits methane, which is an odourless gas. Other gases come to the surface with the methane. The LGMS is designed to combat CH4. Another benefit is the LGMS also destroys the majority of associated gasses.
A blower, which applies a vacuum to a well field, brings the landfill gas to the LGMS flare, which operates at approximately 930 degrees Celsius. The end result is methane and trace gases are burned off at a destruction rate greater than 99 per cent.
There is no visual flare or residue as a result of the system.
The system will allow an enormous elimination of greenhouse and landfill gas that contributes to global warming when released to the atmosphere. Landfills are a significant source of greenhouse gas, meaning the FRSWC is doing its diligent part in helping protect the environment. In fact, approximately 60,000 tonnes a year of CO2 equivalent will be eliminated from the atmosphere through the LGMS process. The FRSWC regularly collects between 75,000 and 80,000 tones of garbage a year.
The LGMS, considered leading-edge technology, will potentially lead to more developments when it comes to generating power or other means of effectively using an excellent source of green energy.
