Notice of Intent to Make a Determination

Awasis Organics Facility - Public Comments invited

May 19, 2026 - Indigenous Services Canada must determine whether the proposed Awasis Organics Facility, to be located on Cowessess Reserve No. 73, is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

To help inform this determination, Indigenous Services Canada is inviting comments from the public respecting that determination. All comments received will be considered public and may be posted online.

Written comments must be submitted by June 22, 2026 to:

Indigenous Services Canada
2010 12th Avenue
Regina, SK  S4P 0M3

Telephone: 306-581-3134
Email: isc-skenv@sac-isc.gc.ca

 

Proposed Project

Awasis Organics is proposing the construction and operations of an organic waste processing facility approximately 3 km east of the Regina city limits on the Cowessess First Nation reserve land (SE-06-17-018 W2M). The proposed operation is part of an 8-year contract (with a possibility for renewal) with the City of Regina to utilize food and green waste generated by the City's residential "Green Bin" program. The operation will utilize Pyrolysis technology to convert no less than 25,000 tonnes of municipal food and green waste annually into a soil amendment (biochar). Pyrolysis is a thermochemical process that uses high temperatures in an environment without oxygen to decompose or convert organic materials into solid biochar, liquid bio-oil, and synthetic gas by heating them in a complete or near-total absence of oxygen which essentially bakes the food and green waste. The primary output for this process will be the production of biochar. The biochar is intended to be sold as a commercial soil amendment.

This project Facility will be comprised of a processing facility, access road and scales, waste storage area, and fluids collection system. The Facility is designed to be constructed in 2 phases. Construction is proposed to begin in Q3 2026 and estimated to be complete prior to 2027. The initial phase consists of two identical pyrolysis process lines capable of processing up to 6 wet tonnes of waste per hour. The pyrolysis process lines can manufacture approximately 2 tonnes of Exceptional Quality (EQ) Class A Biological Charcoal product ("Biochar") per hour in accordance with both Canadian and international standards. Organics waste, which is the feedstock for the facility will be screened for suitability and any non-compliant wastes will be rejected. This non-compliant waste will be diverted from the facility to nearby landfills and/or other licensed waste management facilities.

The proposed Facility will be constructed within the 7.9 ha site in SE-06-17-018 W2M, directly adjacent to the existing Cowessess Gas and Grocery II. Site access will be via an upgraded access road that will be constructed to connect to the existing grid road south of the site, providing  access to Highway 33 and the Bypass. A 26 m weigh bridge will be constructed onsite. A 2,000 m2 metal building housing the pyrolysis line will be constructed on an engineered concrete pad. Fluids from the facility and the loading area will drain to a sump and then transferred to the facility wastewater treatment plant. Treated water is then returned to the facility as process water for pyrolysis. Excess treated wastewater will be discharged to the on-site septic system. Potable and fire suppression water will be stored in two 400 m3 high density polyurethane tanks placed below grade near the south side of the facility. Asphalt pads will be constructed for parking, loading and transfer areas.

Fuel to achieve the heating required for the process will be provided by natural gas. The site electricity will be serviced by SaskPower and will be backed up by an on-site standby natural gas generator. The site will be connected to the local SaskEnergy natural gas distribution system.

The facility is projected to have a lifespan of 20 years.