Author(s)

S. David & N. Abatzoglou

Abstract

In Quebec more than 48% of residual materials produced in 2006 throughout all societal activities have been disposed of finally in landfills. Despite government policies on the 3Rs (Reduction, Reutilization, Recycling) and the total recovery objectives set-up, the total mass landfilled has increased by 120% over the last 10 years. Over the last 50 years, although the agricultural surface decreased by half, the number of pigs tripled. With an annual production of almost 8 million pigs, more than 400 out of a total of 1200 Quebec municipalities have a considerable surplus in liquid manure. The present work undertakes a review of these two growing problems-opportunities in Quebec and proposes alternative and sustainable solutions. Since the building and operation of experimental bioreactors (manure digesters) in some farms in Quebec, the anaerobic co-digestion of the rural and urban putrescible materials seems an interesting avenue. The development of a green energy vector by valorising the so-produced biogas would also contribute in decreasing the rejection of contaminants in the environment. In this work, only the biomass, resulting from the residential sector and the quantity of the liquid manure available in Quebec, is considered to calculate the Bioenergy potential. The Bioenergy output of the various methanisation processes are compared with that abroad, particularly in Europe. The available biomass in Quebec has been calculated based on available statistical data regarding the production of urban waste and manure. The review shows that this Bioenergy vector technology is sustainable and that its commercialization can be profitable at a cost no higher than that of disposal in landfills. Keywords: biomass, organic waste, anaerobic methanisation, bioreactor, codigestion, green energy, Bioenergy.

Keywords

biomass, organic waste, anaerobic methanisation, bioreactor, codigestion, green energy, Bioenergy