Green Bins Fuel Local Fertilizers & Renewable Energy

Seacliff Renewables LP, located in Leamington, is a key facility in Windsor-Essex's expanding green bin program. Since 2011, it has processed organic waste to create liquid and solid fertilizers for agricultural use. The company is also working to convert the biogas produced during this process into renewable natural gas for distribution via the Enbridge pipeline.

The first year of the green bin program in Windsor-Essex has been successful, with the facility receiving approximately 12,000 tonnes of food waste. The program's expansion to Amherstburg, Kingsville, and Leamington, with weekly collection starting the week of November 2, 2026, is expected to increase locally sourced organic material.

Director of projects Sean Mezei emphasized the importance of keeping contaminants, particularly plastic and metal, out of green bins. These materials can damage equipment and complicate the separation process, limiting the facility's ability to process organic waste effectively. The ultimate goal of the program is to divert waste from the Essex-Windsor Regional Landfill, which is projected to reach capacity by 2040.