Gasification makes the most sense for cogeneration systems (producing both heat and electricity) and has huge potential in areas where the electrical production can offset dirtier forms of electrical generation (e.g. coal). In Vancouver, a more efficient use of biomass (waste wood from the forestry industry or urban sources like construction and demolition wastes, land clearing, etc) may be direct combustion for thermal energy. This was one of the options considered for South East False Creek's Neighbourhood Energy Utility. Because of the nearby sewer main and proposed pumping station, sewer heat recovery was selected. But biomass combustion could play a role in future district energy systems, heating our homes and water in a GHG-neutral way. With modern emission control technologies air contaminants can be effectively limited to the point where they have almost no appreciable impact on ambient air quality.

The first step towards either a direct-combustion or gasification approach to waste management is to improve diversion rates. Right now a substantial amount of wood still gets landfilled because it is mixed up with other debris. You rightly point out that a lot of the diversion and recycling that goes on is done by a handful of private companies. The City and the Regional District could do more to tackle this challenge directly by implementing more sophisticated collection and diversion programs.