In 1988 Metro Vancouver’s Waste-to-Energy facility was opened. Since then, Metro Vancouver’s Waste-to-Energy Facility (WTEF) has played an important role in the region’s solid waste management system. Owned by Metro Vancouver, the facility is operated and maintained by Covanta Burnaby Renewable Energy Inc. The facility attempts to ensure that waste is managed in an environmentally safe manner, and generates renewable and valuable energy sources: steam and electricity.

Each year the WTEF turns 285,000 tonnes of garbage into steam and electricity. The steam is sold to a paper recycling facility, while the electricity sold to BC Hydro is enough to power over 15,000 homes.

The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) recognizes it as one of the best facilities on the continent. Strict regulations and environmental monitoring confirm that the WTEF is one of the cleanest facilities of its kind.

The description above was copied from or heavily based on Swim Guide, with permission.

More Information

• Swim Guide - Weather and water quality for Waste-to-Energy Facility (WTEF) and 8,000 other beaches.