Winnipeg landfill project will cut emissions

The City of Winnipeg has signed a deal with the Manitoba government to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions from the Brady Road landfill.

The$2.55-million agreement, announced Friday by Premier Greg Selinger and Winnipeg Deputy Mayor Justin Swandel, covers the design and construction of a system at the Brady Road landfill that will convert methane gas to carbon dioxide.

"Methane gas is a serious threat to our environment," Selinger said. "By capturing it here in the landfill and turning it into carbon dioxide, we'll eliminate more than 95,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas each year.That's equivalent to taking more than 19,000 cars off the road."

Methane gas is 21 times more harmful to the environment than carbon dioxide, Selinger said.

Currently, landfills in Manitoba emit approximately 840,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases annually, the government release says. The Brady Road project is expected to reduce total greenhouse gases from landfills by 11 per cent.

"The City of Winnipeg is proud to participate in this partnership with the province, which improves local air quality by reducing odours and the harmful effects of methane gas," Swandel said.

The City of Brandon's Eastview landfill has recently commissioned its gas collection system under the same provincial funding program.

Landfill gas-capture projects are just one part of Manitoba's strategy to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, the premier said. Other initiatives include:

• Launching the Manitoba Electric Vehicle Roadmap.
• Funding of an additional $1.23 million for Trees for Tomorrow program to plant one million more trees.
• Creating GrEEEn Trucking, which helps trucking fleets install anti-idling devices.
• Increasing geothermal-energy incentives.
• Investing in major hydroelectric and wind-generating projects.