Walker Industries expands composting infrastructure in Ontario

Walker Industries Holdings has made a $25 million investment in its Arthur Campus in Ontario to expand composting infrastructure and to add an $18 million packaging facility.

The company says these investments have added to Walker’s capabilities by diverting 170,000 tons of organic materials into premium-quality compost, soils and soil amendments. The expansion has also resulted in an increase in the workforce at the Arthur Campus.

“The expansion of our Arthur Campus is a testament to our shared vision for environmental stewardship and community prosperity,” says Adam Egan, business operations manager at Walker.

Walker began its expansion program at the site in 2020 by constructing 32 new GORE composting cells. These cells are covered with innovative GORE-TEX material, which creates a controlled environment for optimal decomposition. The cover also reduces odors and environmental impacts, allowing for rapid production of high-quality compost.

This process has many environmental benefits, and Walker is poised to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 11,350 tons of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) by 2030 and 137,000 tons by 2050.

The packaging facility came online in June, equipped with two fully automated bagging lines capable of producing up to 100,000 pallets of garden soil and mulches annually. This strategic investment aligns with the growing consumer demand for sustainable products.

“Our commitment to sustainability drives us to develop solutions that minimize environmental impact and maximize resource efficiency,” says Geoff Boyd, vice president of resource recovery at Walker.