Disco Waste Facility & The 22 Oct 25 Fire

On October 22nd, 2025, at approximately 10:30 pm, a significant fire was reported at the Disco Waste Processing Facility at 120 Disco Road in Toronto, Ontario. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

Here is a brief overview of the facility. Information on the response to the fire, the probable cause, and potential preventative measures will be posted shortly.

Fig. 1. Disco Treatment Facility, Toronto, Ontario, with highway 409 in the background. (October, 2024)

From Green Bins to Green Energy: Toronto's Disco Road Organics Processing Facility

Every week, Toronto residents toss food scraps and yard waste into their green bins. At 120 Disco Road, organic waste transforms into renewable energy and high-quality compost through one of North America's most advanced processing facilities.

Fig. 2. Looking south from the air, with highway 427 on the right, Disco Treatment Facility circled in black (October, 2024)

Facility Overview

• Location: 120 Disco Road, Toronto

• Operational: December 2013 (full capacity March 2014)

• Annual capacity: 75,000 tonnes of source-separated organics

• Technology: Anaerobic digestion with BTA® Hydromechanical Pre-treatment System

• Capital investment: $75 million

  
  

  

  Fig. 3. On the tipping floor at Disco Road (https://www.recyclingproductnews.com/article/37208/disco-road-facility-demonstrates-the-benefits-of-anaerobic-digestion)

How It Works

Pre-Processing:

• Three waste pulpers separate contaminants (plastic bags, metals, glass)

• Lightweight materials float and are removed

• Heavy materials sink and are extracted

• Clean organic material flows to digesters

  
  

Anaerobic Digestion:

• Two massive digesters (5,300 cubic meters each)

• Bacteria break down organics without oxygen

• Produces biogas (60% methane)

• Process runs 24/7 at 35-40°C

  
  

What the Facility Produces

Renewable Natural Gas (RNG):

• 2024 upgrade converts biogas to pipeline-quality RNG

• Injected directly into Enbridge's distribution grid

• Eliminates 12,000 tonnes of CO2e emissions annually

• Equivalent to removing 2,600 cars from the road

  
  

High-Quality Compost:

• Digestate dewatered by centrifuges (30% dry matter)

• Sent to composting partner (All Treat Farms)

• Becomes Class AA compost—highest quality rating

• Used in agriculture, landscaping, and gardens

  
  

Economics and Cost Savings

Operating Efficiencies:

• Centrifuge system saves $300,000 annually (no polymer chemicals needed)

• 33% faster processing than earlier facilities (80 vs 120 minutes per batch)

• Closed-loop water recycling reduces operating costs

  
  

Revenue Generation:

• RNG sales/offsets natural gas purchases for city operations

• Compost sales provide additional returns

• Reduced landfill tipping fees

  
  

Environmental Impact

Key Benefits:

• Diverts 75,000 tonnes from landfills annually

• Prevents uncontrolled methane emissions

• Produces renewable energy replacing fossil fuels

• Returns nutrients to soil through compost

• Supports Toronto's climate action goals and net-zero targets

  
  

Scale:

• Handles ~40% of Toronto's 170,000 tonnes annual residential organics

• Partners with Dufferin facility (55,000 tonnes capacity)

• Combined facilities prevent 16,000 tonnes CO2e emissions yearly

  
  

How Residents Can Help

Proper Green Bin Use:

• Include only accepted materials

• Avoid excessive plastic packaging

• Participate consistently

• Educate family and neighbors

  
  

Why It Matters:

• Quality of incoming material affects processing efficiency

• Lower contamination = better outputs

• Every properly sorted bin maximizes environmental benefits

  
  

The Future of Organics Processing

Toronto's Vision:

• Critical component of climate emergency response

• Model for other North American cities

• Potential expansion to commercial/institutional waste streams

• Ongoing optimization of RNG yield and resource recovery

  
  

Innovation:

• Demonstrates circular economy principles in action

• Transforms "waste" into valuable resources

• Proves that sustainable infrastructure is economically viable

  
  

The Bottom Line

The Disco Road facility proves that smart waste management is both environmentally responsible and economically sound. From its $75 million investment to $300,000 in annual savings, from 12,000 tonnes of prevented emissions to thousands of tonnes of quality compost, this facility embodies Toronto's commitment to sustainability.