Progressive Waste Solutions has opened Canada’s largest renewable natural gas (RNG) facility in Terrebonne, Quebec.

Located near Montreal, the $44-million RNG facility is designed to convert landfill gas into natural gas, which is then delivered to the TransCanada pipeline network.

The facility is expected to process about 10,000 cubic feet of incoming landfill gas per minute, equivalent to fueling 1,500 trucks for 20 years and reducing potential greenhouse gas emissions by about 1.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide over ten years.

“Our investment in this facility, along with the investment we are making to convert certain portions of our collection fleet to compressed natural gas (“CNG”) from diesel fuel, demonstrates our commitment to environmentally sustainable practices as well as reducing our carbon footprint,” said Dan Pio, executive vice-president, strategy and business development, Progressive Waste Solutions.

Pierre Arcand, Quebec’s Minster of Energy and Natural Resources, added that the renewable gas will replace up to 350,000 barrels of oil per year and have “far-reaching effects for Quebec.”