The Town of Espanola is partnering with the local Ontario Clean Water Agency to look into two options to improve efficiencies at the sewage treatment plant.
Once someone flushes the toilet, they really don’t concern themselves with where the waste goes, but agency spokesperson, Indra Maharjan, says there are several opportunities for the town to improve efficiency at the plant when it comes to disposal of solid waste.
One option is to install geo-tubes that can dry the waste, called aerobic digestion, which can save haulage disposal fees to Sudbury.
Rather, he says, the solids would go to the local landfill or to be used in farming/soil operations.
That option carries a cost of $1.4 million.
The second option carries a much higher cost of $10 million and creates savings by diverting food waste away from the landfill and creating energy, in the form of gas, which can then be sold on the grid.
Council gave Maharjan’s team the go-ahead to apply for funding for both, but stressed they are under no obligation to accept either project.
Maharjan is expected to report back to council by late summer.