The Burnaby Energy-from-Waste Facility began commercial operation in February 1988 serving the Greater Vancouver Regional District (Metro Vancouver). The facility is located in the commercial/industrial area of South Burnaby, BC and processes about 20 percent of the Lower Mainland’s garbage, mainly from the North Shore, Burnaby and New Westminster. Every year, approximately 280,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste is converted into 900,000 tonnes of steam and 25 MW of electricity, providing both economic and environmental benefits. A portion of this steam is sold to a nearby paper recycling facility, helping eliminate the use of fossil fuels. In 2006, a $7 million upgrade was completed to increase the amount of heat recovered from the waste and electricity produced. The revenue from steam and electrical sales offsets the operational costs of Metro Vancouver’s solid waste management system.