The Halifax Organics project involves the design, construction, and long-term operation of a state-of-the-art organics management facility. Using best practices and innovative technology, the project will deliver one of the most advanced in-vessel composting systems in the industry.

At the heart of the facility are 13 enclosed composting vessels—nine for composting and four for maturing the material—ensuring both efficiency and reliability. This setup meets the performance and backup requirements set out in the project agreement.

A major focus during the design phase was managing air flow throughout the facility to improve energy efficiency and minimize odours. All air from the composting process and buildings is captured and treated through a robust odour control system. This includes a four-cell biofilter with built-in redundancy, which vents through a single 30-metre stack.

To further control odours and maintain clean operations, specially designed airlock systems are used where materials are received and where finished compost is loaded out. The receiving area includes four airlocks—one large enough to accommodate full-length trailers—and the loadout area includes an additional airlock.