The Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in Engineering is awarded to a Nova Scotia Engineering Project, which demonstrates excellence in engineering design and construction. The Honorable Myra A. Freeman, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia presented the 2001 Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in Engineering to Dillon Consulting Ltd. and Dexter Construction Co. for the Otter Lake Resource Management Facility.
Shown in the photo from left to right are: Ron Gilkie, Ph.D., P.Eng. APENS President, Her Honour Myra A. Freeman, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, Dick Tiller, P.Eng. of Dexter Construction Co. and Gerry Isenor, P.Eng. of Dillon Consulting Ltd.
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Otter Lake Waste Management Facility
Project Overview
The Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) has one of the most technically sophisticated waste management systems in Canada and the cornerstone of that system is the Otter Lake Waste Management Facility. The design and construction of this facility was undertaken by a team of Nova Scotian Professional Engineers and Scientists led by Dillon Consulting Limited (Dillon) and Dexter Construction Company Ltd. (Dexter).
The design build team of Dillon and Dexter, headed by Professional Engineers from these firms, undertook the design, approval and construction of the $44,000,000 system in 11 months by working as a single integrated unit. The facility began accepting solid waste on January 1, 1999.
The team accepted the challenge to undertake the design, construction and commissioning of all components including the entrance road in 11 months. The site at the beginning of this process was forested with the only access being via a woodland road. By the end of the design and construction period the site had a paved two lane access road and fully operational state-of-the-art waste-resource processing facilities, administration centre, environmental controls and a residual disposal facility ready to accept and process waste materials. This was a significant accomplishment in delivering a complex, fully operational facility in such a short time.
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To succeed in the undertaking the team applied proven engineering principals in not only the design and construction of the components but also in the application of project management skills. The assembled team of designers and constructors met to establish key liaison contacts and a rigorous schedule of accountability meetings between Dillon, Dexter and HRM.
By working as a single unit, Dillon and Dexter made maximum use of every team member's creativity in optimizing the design to the actual field conditions as well as the specifications agreed in the contract with HRM. This system promoted "out of the box thinking" which resulted in design decisions with the Constructors input and agreement. Refinements in the design were made jointly by the team as the design progressed, maximizing time efficiencies and effective construction techniques. As well, this teaming of construction and design engineers optimized the engineering design to address changing field conditions including seasonal challenges, available equipment, resources and materials.
To ensure that the entire system met the high standards set out in the contract with the Owner a system of rigorous review, checking and testing was put in place. The design build team established an internal team of professional engineers and scientists to monitor the quality of the materials and work. As well, HRM retained a team of professionals who monitored progress and construction methods on their behalf.
During the preliminary stages of the work the design build team assembled information on various technologies and traveled to several locations in Canada, the United States and Europe to inspect individual systems that had already been constructed. While this information was extremely useful, the Otter Lake Facility is unique in that all of the individual components, which in themselves reflect latest technologies, are integrated at a single site and operate as a single waste management system. Previous facilities have been stand alone operations.
The Otter Lake Facility greatly enhances the image of the engineering profession in Nova Scotia by clearly demonstrating to the public that we can design and construct world class state-of-the-art facilities which use latest technology, planning and construction techniques within very stringent time and budget controls.
Since the Otter Lake Facility has been commissioned it has been extensively used for educational purposes by local schools who make regular tours to the site to inform the next generation on the importance of waste management and the steps that are being taken today to reduce waste from the environment. As well the site is recognized nationally and internationally as a model for waste handling and is routinely visited by delegations from across Canada and around the world. Recently, it was announced that the only province in Canada to achieve a 50% waste reduction by year 2000 was Nova Scotia. The HRM system is an integral part of the Nova Scotia success.
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Response to Evaluation Criteria
The following is a summary of project highlights as they relate to the various evaluation criteria established for the APENS Lieutenant Governor's Award for Excellence in Engineering.
Original Achievement in the Application of Engineering Principles
A first of its kind in the world.
Makes HRM and Nova Scotia a global leader by maximizing recovery of reusable resources.
Integration of composting, recycling and diversion principles to achieve a stabilized waste for disposal.
This integrated system accomplishes a diversion rate from HRM landfills of greater than 55%.
Significant reduction in toxic landfill leachate strength resulting from the stabilized waste.
Creative Accomplishment in the Application of Engineering Principles
The innovative combination of established waste management elements have achieved enhanced diversion (i.e. greater than 50%) objectives.
The highly successful balanced mix of automated and non-automated systems adapt to a constantly changing waste stream (daily, weekly, monthly).
The fast tracked effective integration of design and construction processes have achieved a design build product in an accelerated 11 month period.
The facility utilizes a unique application of size separation technology to separate organic material for stabilization from non-organic material for maximum recovery of resources.
Excellence in Engineering Design
The design of this facility has led to the establishment of a practical, functional, and sustainable waste management system.
Proven individual waste processing elements have been assembled into a single integrated processing facility.
The design was executed in a highly compressed time frame.
Consistent exceedance of Provincial diversion requirements.
Human exposure to high risk areas has been minimized through strategic use of automated systems.
Small facility foot print was accomplished through vertical stacking of material handling components.
Material and equipment was selected to resist the effects of the hostile environment.
A multi-compartmental bio-filter was used, resulting in odour free operation.
Resultant leachate is treatable at an existing wastewater treatment facility.
Enhancement of the Image of Engineering in the Eyes of the PublicThe Otter Lake Facility is a showcase for Nova Scotia and Canada.
It has led to the public acceptance of waste management in HRM including the local community monitoring committee.
The system performance criteria, as set by a public consultation committee, was met and exceeded by the design and construction team.
It is used as an educational tool for future generations.
It has become a model for other communities to address their waste management requirements.
The facility is widely toured by provincial, federal and international waste management officials (both technical and elected).
Application of Leading Edge Technology
Automated controls are used for process management and worker safety.
The integration of components achieve very stringent diversion targets.
The system design maximizes resource diversion while stabilizing the end product prior to disposal.
State-of-the-art computer modeling was used for odour management and residuals disposal facility design.
The application of trommel technology for the separation of the organic waste stream (for stabilization) from dry waste stream (for maximum recovery of resources).
Economic Benefits
The construction of this facility will result in economic stability in waste management for a 25 year period (the envy of most municipalities in Canada and the USA).
Maximizing reuse of materials to reduce demand on virgin resources.
The unique design has eliminated the costly requirement for a dedicated leachate treatment plant.
Reduction in development costs will be realized due to a decrease in residual material and thus the requirement of a smaller landfill foot print.
Improved traffic flows have led to significant land development opportunities as a result of the development of the Otter Lake Facility Interchange.
Environmental Benefits
The facility is a centerpiece for 50% diversion. A Canadian target that only Nova Scotia has met.
Stable and significanly lower leachate strength has been accomplished, which is treatable in existing sewage treatment plant.
It demonstrates that waste management can be environmentally friendly.
It minimizes the production of methane, which is a significant greenhouse gas contributor.
It maximizes recycling, reuse and reduction systems, while minimizing the waste sent for landfilling.
Land area disturbance for landfill is reduced due to reduced waste volumes.
The traditional odour control issues associated with waste management facilities have been eliminated.
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