Supporting Calgary’s organic waste diversion and composting program

As Calgary’s population has grown, the volume of organic waste requiring management has increased, placing pressure on landfill capacity and long-term disposal costs. To improve diversion of residential food and yard waste, the City of Calgary implemented a large-scale, enclosed composting facility designed to process organic material in a controlled environment. The facility manages key conditions such as temperature, airflow and moisture to support efficient biological decomposition. Through this approach, residential organic waste is stabilized and converted into compost suitable for beneficial use, supporting the City’s broader waste diversion and resource recovery objectives.

Jacobs supported the City of Calgary in the design and delivery of the composting facility, providing engineering, process design and program delivery expertise. As part of this work, we assisted with system design for aeration, material handling and process control, with consideration given to local climate and operational requirements. Building on this experience, we also supported the City in planning a future expansion of the site to include anaerobic digestion capacity. This support has included the evaluation of technology options, development of conceptual designs and cost estimates, as well as acting as the City’s Owner’s Engineer during design, construction and commissioning activities. Throughout these roles, we have provided technical advisory services to support the City’s management of its residential organic waste infrastructure.