Generate Upcycle
Generate Upcycle is a global leader in circular waste management and the largest producer of RNG from food waste in North America. Generate Upcycle has 12 sites across the U.S., Canada, and the UK. Eleven of these sites are anaerobic digestion (AD) facilities and one food waste pre-processing facility. Last year, their facilities processed more than 1 million tons of food waste, generating 110,000 MWh of electricity and 500,000 GJ of RNG.
Generate Upcycle’s fleet of AD facilities provide food waste upcycling for commercial, industrial and municipal customers; RNG sales to utilities, manufacturers and other large energy customers; electricity production, peak shaving and capacity services to grid operators; and nutrient capture and fertilizer production. The Generate Upcycle team maintains operating teams in all three countries where they operate.
In 2024, their North American ADs processed 300,000 tons of organic waste, consisting primarily of food production scraps, packaged products, residential source-separated organics (SSO), and other organic waste from the industrial, commercial, institutional (ICI) sectors. Thanks to investments they’ve made in upgrading their facilities, this portfolio is expected to process 400,000 tons of organic waste by the end of 2025, a 33% year-over-year increase, and will eventually produce over 1 million GJ of RNG/year.
Generate Upcycle’s scale, sophistication, and the operational expertise of their world-class team distinguishes them in the industry. Their breadth of experience in food waste processing is unique and valuable as it is the most challenging and technically complex feedstock in the organics processing space. In addition, their presence in three countries allows them to take the best practices and leading innovations from each country and share them across their operations.
In Canada, Generate Upcycle owns and operates the only commercial AD facility in Ontario, located in London ON, that produces RNG from municipal SSO and ICI organics. The London AD facility processes organic waste from some of Ontario’s largest municipalities, and more than 90,000 tonnes per year of ICI food and beverage waste for small distributors, food processors, and large manufacturers. It currently produces 450,000 GJ per year of RNG, and a planned digester expansion will increase this to 675,000 GJ. Once the expansion is completed in 2026, it will be capable of processing up to 225,000 tonnes of organic waste per year. The facility also has 2.85MW of electricity generation capacity that is utilized for peak shaving, and the facility produces a liquid digestate that is a CFIA-registered organic fertilizer and used on local Southwestern Ontario farms.
Generate Upcycle sees the outlook for the biogas sector in Canada as exceptionally promising given that Canada is focused both on becoming an energy superpower and addressing waste management challenges, which the biogas industry is uniquely positioned to address. Although currently underinvested, the sector holds extraordinary growth potential. A stable policy environment–one that provides long-term market signals to the industry–will accelerate the build-out of the supply chains and infrastructure needed to ensure Canada’s role as an energy superpower.
Generate Upcycle finds value in their membership with the Canadian Biogas Association as the strong, united industry voice needed to scale up organics recycling and the associated clean energy production in Canada.
