Major investment does not happen by chance, which is why we are excited to announce another significant milestone in our efforts to secure a waste to energy facility. The Newell Regional Solid Waste Management Authority (the Authority) which represents elected officials from the County of Newell, the City of Brooks, the Town of Bassano, and the Villages of Duchess and Rosemary has signed two agreements with Global Green Energy Group – Canada (GGEGC), a subsidiary of Global Green International Investments Pte Ltd. “Singapore” (GGII).

These agreements pave the way for the development of Alberta’s first waste-to-energy facility at the Newell Regional Landfill. Headquartered in Singapore, GGII holds the exclusive global license for a Japanese leading waste-to-energy technology that converts carbon-based waste into clean, renewable energy.

The Authority will lease 3 acres within the landfill footprint to GGEGC to build and operate its waste to energy plant. NRL will provide a portion of the plant’s operational feedstock consisting of municipal solid waste (residential and commercial garbage), enabling us to divert an estimated 16,500 tonnes of waste yearly from being landfilled. Using feedstock, the plant operates through a pyrolysis process, producing various clean resources like diesel, hydrogen, electricity, and biochar, improving the circulation of processed waste materials.

GGEGC/GGII capital investment for the project is estimated at $80M. Having secured agreements with the Authority, GGEGC can now make an application to Alberta Environment and Protected Areas (AEPA) for the project. Contingent upon AEPA approvals, the facility is expected to be operational by the second quarter of 2027, employing up to 45 full-time people.

Once AEPA approvals are granted, operationalizing the facility is relatively quick because the pyrolysis portion of the facility is modular. The unit is manufactured, assembled, and tested for quality assurance in Japan, disassembled, and shipped. Arriving at the Newell site, it will be reassembled and tied into the preconstructed ground infrastructure.

The waste to energy plant is expected to run 24/7, and upwards of 330 days per annum. As constructed, the plant will have the capability of handling 80 net tonnes of feedstock per day, roughly double the amount of feedstock NRL can provide. In collaboration, the Authority and GGEGC will work together to secure the remaining feedstock required to bring the facility to its maximum operating potential. Feedstock will be sought from other landfills across Southern Alberta.

Below is a short list of questions to expand on the project.

Why should we care about this project?

Finding ways to reduce the landfilling of waste is important. Building, operating, and maintaining waste cells is costly. By reducing the amount of waste landfilled and through recycling measures, we can significantly increase the life of the landfill. The project reduces held liabilities and risks of operating a landfill. Finally, the facility contributes to circularity, whereby waste is repurposed – the investment will see to the diversification of the local economy.

How will this impact my use of the landfill?

On an individual level, the project does not impact you. Users of the landfill will continue to be welcomed to the facility to dispose of waste products.

How will this project impact my rates?

Charges for the disposal of waste are called tipping fees. They are collected to cover day-to-day operational and capital costs at the landfill from receiving the waste, to the safe disposal of waste, recycling, environmental care, staff wages, and to meet legislative requirements for closure and post-closure of the landfill cells.

As a result of an approval issued by the AEPA to a privately owned Class II industrial landfill in the County of Newell, the landfill tipping fees at the NRL were expected to rise as early as January 1, 2026, to be equivalent to other Alberta landfills. With the addition of the waste to energy facility, anticipated tipping fee increases will be modest. NRL expects its tipping fees to remain well under that of equivalent Alberta landfills.

Any changes to tipping fees will be communicated by the Authority and their respective municipalities. 

Are there environmental impacts we need to be aware of regarding the planned facility?

AEPA is the regulator for this project. AEPA has strict regulations around waste to energy plants, ensuring the highest environmental standards. 

Not a question, something extra.

GGEGC, with the support of GGII Singapore, is committed to maximizing Canadian participation in every stage of the project. This includes hiring local technical staff, engaging domestic contractors, deploying small-scale mobile units to serve smaller communities, assembling components locally, and ultimately developing in-country manufacturing of full facilities. This approach ensures that the economic and social benefits remain in Canada, while simultaneously addressing local environmental challenges and contributing to national sustainability goals.

The investment is designed to be a teaching and research facility, not only in terms of waste engineering, waste diversion, and pyrolysis, but also by applying different innovative technologies. If research proves successful, the potential to mine existing municipal solid waste cells for feedstock may also be possible.

In closing, the Authority, its management and GGEGC would like to take this opportunity to thank the Southern Alberta Energy from Waste Association for all the groundwork completed in the prior 14 years to vet GGEGC as the choice provider of smaller waste to energy facilities better suited to Alberta’s geography. We formally welcome GGEGC to the Brooks Newell Region.

Stay informed at www.nrl.ca.

Authority Board

Tony Steidel, Mayor of Duchess

Bill Prentice, Brooks Councillor

Neil Johnson, County of Newell Councillor

John Slomp, Bassano Councillor

Gerry Fortier, Rosemary Councillor

Authority Manager

Shawn McKay

GGEGC

Ruben Aldape

John Swain

Allan Clarke