Boomerang Environnement rolls out a one-of-a-kind multi-material sorting centre

Boomerang Environnement is now operating its totally new multi-material sorting centre designed to process construction, renovation and demolition (CRD) debris, as well as institutional, commercial and industrial (ICI) waste, a dual mission which makes the centre truly one of a kind. Built at a cost of $15 million, with state-of-the-art equipment, the centre is also a figurehead for environmental initiatives internationally.
A business model less vulnerable to economic upheavals Mr. Alnoor Manji and his partner Mr. Alain Brasseur have worked the last few years drawing up plans for a CRD debris sorting centre in Laval. "We saw that the two existing centres could no longer meet demand," says Mr. Manji. "But just when we were set to kick off the project, the environmental sector began to feel the impact of the economic crisis. So, we went back to the drawing board to develop a business model that would be less vulnerable to economic fluctuations." The solution? To give the plant a dual mission, diversifying its sources of materials. Thus, it would process not only CRD debris but also ICI waste.
"Laval salutes this innovative project, a technological model par excellence. The Quebec government’s infrastructure program is an initiative to be applauded, as it now gives municipalities the opportunity to divert these materials from landfill sites, get the maximum value out of them, thus contributing to the sustainable development of their community. This program is fully in line with the policy of the City of Laval," emphasizes Mr. Pierre Desroches, President and Executive Director of LAVAL TECHNOPOLE.

Customized technology
The concept of a dual-purpose sorting centre—uncommon until now—clearly requires a customized technological infrastructure. Consequently, this plant has been equipped with two unloading areas for the two different sources of waste material. All material between 5 and 20 cm in size is sent by conveyor through an automated sorting line equipped with three optical sorters: one for wood and the other two for plastic and fibres. By way of comparison, only one other CRD debris treatment company in Quebec uses optical sorting technology, and it has only one sorter. Materials bigger than 20 cm are sorted manually.
"Clearly, automation allows us to increase the volume of material treated, in addition to obtaining a better-quality final product and a much higher recovery rate," says the president of Boomerang Environnement. In fact, the company succeeds in obtaining a material recovery rate of some 80% to 85% for CRD debris and 70% for ICI waste.
Moreover, in just four months of operations, Mr. Manji and his team have observed that the recommended technologies play a considerable role in the centre’s performance: "We have already reached a performance level higher than we had hoped for. This success is attributable to two factors: the support of our clientele and the choice of equipment."
A smart choice for businesses
Mr. Manji and Brasseur’s project came at the right time. The Government of Quebec’s new waste management policy strongly encourages reuse, recovery and recycling to reduce landfills. This is exactly what Boomerang Environnement is offering, and at a cost comparable to a landfill: $40-50 a ton.
At the end of the treatment chain, wood is turned into chips, which can be used as biomass for energy purposes or even for more specific uses, such as particleboard. Other materials (plastics, aluminum, paper, cardboard, etc.) are mostly baled and resold to recyclers.

 Credit: News and Press releases from Laval Technopole