Utilities Kingston is initiating a Schedule C Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) for a combined biosolids and food waste processing facility at Knox Farm. This is a municipally-owned property, located off Perth Road, just northwest of the Highway 401 and Division Street interchange in the City of Kingston.

The Class EA is another step in what is known as the Kingston Regional Biosolids & Biogas Facility project. The intent is that the facility will process wastes from municipal wastewater treatment plants and the City’s “Green Bin” program to produce a renewable natural gas (biogas) and other beneficial resources.

The project was triggered by the need to expand solids treatment infrastructure at the Cataraqui Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant and the desire to investigate innovative solutions that reduce the environmental impact of delivering utility services.

Managing sludge and other organic wastes to produce renewable end products would help achieve our climate action goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and ensuring the continued resilience of infrastructure for our community.

This Notice of Commencement signals the official commencement of the Municipal Class EA process, a study which will:

• define the problem;
• identify and evaluate alternative solutions and design concepts, as related to the natural, socio-cultural, technical, and financial environments; and
• develop a preferred design concept for the combined biosolids and food waste processing facility.

This Class EA builds on the Master Plan for Enhanced Biosolids Management and Biogas Utilization completed in 2020 and the Knox Farm Suitability Assessment completed in April 2023.

The public took part in a drop-in session in March 2023 to review the findings of the suitability of Knox Farm for the proposed facility. It is anticipated that one public information centre will be conducted to invite public input during the Municipal Class EA process.

Learn more about the project from our website.