Veolia, in collaboration with the City of Toronto, has been recognized by the Water Environment Association of Ontario (WEAO) with an Award for Operational Excellence for its full-scale biosolids pelletizer facility at Toronto's Ashbridges Bay Treatment Plant.
The award celebrates more than 15 years of innovation in biosolids management and the circular economy in action. Since 2007, Veolia's dedicated team at Ashbridges Bay has been transforming biosolids — a byproduct of wastewater treatment — into Nutri-Pel, a commercial fertilizer that boosts crop yields by up to 40% while improving soil health and reducing dependence on synthetic chemical fertilizers.
What began with 8,000 tonnes of Nutri-Pel produced in 2008 has grown to 22,000 tonnes produced annually, supplying a customer base of 200 farmers across southern Ontario — with demand continuing to rise.
"This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team, many of whom have been with this project since day one," said Nicolas Germond, CEO Veolia Canada "What we've built at Ashbridges Bay is a true example of the circular economy — taking what was once considered waste and turning it into a product that delivers real agricultural and environmental value."
The Nutri-Pel program exemplifies Veolia's commitment to ecological transformation by keeping valuable nutrients in the ground where they belong, diverting biosolids from landfill, and supporting sustainable agriculture in Ontario.
Germond added: “The management of biosolids represents a significant challenge facing modern municipalities. As urban populations grow and environmental regulations become more stringent, Veolia is working with Canadian municipal wastewater treatment facilities to adopt innovative approaches to transform what was once considered waste into valuable resources.”
Veolia extends its sincere gratitude to the City of Toronto, whose collaboration and vision have been instrumental in the program's continued growth and success.