Weston Foods to pilot test new wastewater treatment system

Toronto – The federal government is helping the food processing industry become more environmentally friendly.

A recent federal investment of almost $1 million is going toward a project that will test an innovative water recycling system used to treat wastewater from within a food processing facility.

The investment is going to Weston Foods Canada Inc., which specializes in producing and delivering a wide variety of baked goods found in grocery stores, convenience stores and supermarket in-store bakeries and foodservice outlets. Some of its brands include Wonder+, Country Harvest, Gadoua and D’Italiano.

The company will pilot test a new onsite bio-digester for wastewater treatment. The federal government says the novel process will allow the water to be reused or disposed of without having to be discharged to municipal sanitary sewers at a cost to the business.

Wastewater management is a top environmental issue facing the sector with the costs of water treatment doubling every six years.

Pollutants in wastewater systems represent one of the largest sources of contaminants by volume in Canadian waters.

This project has the potential to improve awareness of best management practices and technologies to implement sustainable integrated water management practices in the food processing industry.

The findings will be released to enable other facilities to implement similar technologies.