Brampton is set to become home to Canada’s largest garbage-burning facility after Ontario approved a major expansion of the Emerald Energy from Waste plant, a decision drawing sharp concern from Peel Public Health, environmental advocates and local residents already worried about air pollution in the east end of the city.
The facility, located at 7656 Bramalea Road near the Brampton-Mississauga border, received approval from Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks for its Environmental Assessment Screening Report on April 28, 2025. Emerald says construction is expected to begin in 2026, with Phase 1 targeted for late 2028 and full buildout expected by 2030.
Brampton incinerator expansion would burn up to 900,000 tonnes yearly
The redevelopment would increase the plant’s processing capacity from roughly 180,000 tonnes of waste per year to as much as 900,000 tonnes annually. Emerald says the upgraded facility would process up to 2,500 tonnes per day and recover up to 100 megawatts of energy.
Consulting firm GHD, which led the environmental assessment work for Emerald, says the project received provincial approval and would allow the Brampton facility to process up to 900,000 tonnes of residual waste each year.
Emerald has framed the project as a response to Ontario’s landfill capacity pressures and rising electricity needs. The company says the redevelopment will replace a 30-year-old plant with modern technology and stronger emissions controls.
Peel Public Health raises air pollution and health concerns
Health concerns remain central to the local opposition. A Peel Public Health report reviewed the potential health impacts of the proposed expansion and warned about added exposure in a community already facing pollution pressures.
The Pointer reported Peel Public Health warned increased emissions may worsen air and soil pollution and raise risks tied to cancer, respiratory disease and heart conditions among nearby residents. The report also noted residents in the area already face higher rates of chronic conditions, including COPD, heart disease and diabetes.
Environmental Defence and Brampton Environmental Alliance have argued the surrounding community is more likely to be racialized and lower-income than Peel Region overall. Steve Papagiannis of Brampton Environmental Alliance said, “Peel Public Health points out that this area of Peel already has significant air pollution and people living there are more likely to suffer from certain health conditions, including diabetes and COPD.”
Critics question province’s approval process
Opponents have also criticized the province for relying on a streamlined environmental screening process rather than requiring a full individual environmental assessment. HazMat Management reported 446 public requests to elevate the project to a full environmental assessment were rejected.
Environmental Defence said the proposal involves a 30-year-old waste-burning facility and noted Ontario had earlier committed $2.99 million to the site for hydrogen-related work before completion of the environmental assessment process.
Emerald says the project included four open houses held between November 2022 and December 2023. The company also says emissions from the proposed facility were modelled by engineers, with continuous monitoring planned to maintain compliance with provincial standards.
The debate now moves into the next approval and construction stages. For Brampton residents, the key question is whether provincial oversight and new pollution-control systems will satisfy public health concerns before one of North America’s largest waste incinerators rises in the heart of Peel.
