Progressive Waste Solutions Ltd. has opened a facility in Terrebonne, Quebec, to convert landfill gas to natural gas.

The plant, near Montreal, is designed to process about 10,000 cubic feet per minute of incoming natural gas, according to a news release from the Vaughan, Ontario-based Progressive Waste. The company characterized it as the largest unit of its kind in Canada.

Progressive also unveiled at the opening of the plant a rebranding of BFI Canada to Vision Enviro Progressive in Quebec. Also, the company is renaming the landfill formerly known as BFI Usine de Triage Lachenaie as Complexe Enviro Progressive. Both changes take effect April 1.

The natural gas conversion facility cost about $44 million to construct and creates five operational jobs. The converted gas will then be delivered to the TransCanada pipeline network.

The gas generated at the site equals fueling 1,500 trucks for 20 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 Mr. Dan Pio, executive vice president, strategy and business development, for Progressive Waste.