Eighteen months ago, energy consultants said Hamilton and Niagara should build a garbage incinerator, but now they are saying it might make more sense to turn waste into fuel pellets.
Refuse-derived fuel recently became a more attractive option when the province made it easier to get permission to use it for power production.
Energy consultant David Merriman told Hamilton's waste plan working group York Region has a deal with a Vaughan company to turn some of its garbage into the fuel pellets.
He estimates the pellet-making process would cost $85 per tonne, compared with $147 a tonne for incineration, but would only work if there is long-term demand.
When the study began, both Hamilton and Niagara regions were worried about running out of landfill space. But since then, both cities have negotiated more space in local dumps.
The group decided to keep incineration, landfill and production of refuse-derived fuel on the agenda and to consult with the public again next year. Hamilton has already approved plans for an incinerator.
