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Enbridge Gas helps renewable natural gas program ‘mooooooove’ forward

Published: August 09, 2022

Ontario’s first carbon-negative waste collection truck runs on RNG sourced from cow manure

Enbridge Gas Inc. saw an opportunity to contribute to a great new renewable natural gas program in Ontario.

So we went to work and got it dung.

We’re celebrating today with Ontario Waste Management Association (OWMA) and Bluewater Recycling Association (BRA) the arrival of Ontario’s first carbon-negative waste-collection truck. The truck is fuelled entirely by renewable natural gas (RNG)—sourced largely from cow manure.

Here’s how it works:

  • Manure from a southwestern Ontario dairy farm and off-farm organic waste are collected in large tanks called digestors
  • Inside the tanks, bacteria break down the organic material to create biogas. Decomposition occurs in an oxygen-deprived environment, with the resulting biogas comprised of methane (roughly 60%) and carbon dioxide (about 40%)
  • An upgrading process strips out the carbon dioxide, and what’s left is RNG that can be added to the Enbridge Gas distribution system. Or put into trucks that burn natural gas as fuel.

Presto. No bull.

Enbridge Gas sponsored the OWMA in developing its program to encourage members to use RNG in their refuse trucks. The program’s launch in London, ON, brought together representatives from BRA’s participating townships, Enbridge Gas, the OWMA and the team at BRA who are the program’s first participant.

“The accelerating growth of RNG production in Ontario enables waste industry organizations like BRA to demonstrate leadership in displacing diesel. Early investments in compressed natural gas (CNG) are paying environmental dividends via RNG as a straightforward path for decarbonizing transportation today,” says Michele Harradence, President of Enbridge Gas, in a news release issued today. “We’re pleased to support their efforts as we work together to transition Ontario to a clean energy future.”

A refuse truck fuelled with RNG is about half the cost of an electric truck and the fuel price is similiar to diesel, with similar performance to diesel, including in cold weather. These factors mean municipalities could have carbon-neutral fleets without sacrificing performance, reliability, or range.

At Enbridge, our goal is to deliver the energy people need to heat their homes, run their businesses, and fuel their lives. Our success is rooted in understanding energy fundamentals, adapting to market and consumer trends and continuing to transition our business to align with the changing energy landscape.

See today’s news release and learn moooooo-re.

(TOP PHOTO: Ontario's first carbon-negative waste collection truck runs on RNG sourced largely from dairy farm organic waste, and takes just minutes to fully refuel.)

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