A new report says Halifax's composting system needs a major overhaul. It recommends shutting one plant and making significant changes to a second.

"Our facilities are of an age that we need to do something about them," said Coun. Jennifer Watts, who also chairs the city's environment committee.

A consultant reviewed the two operations that are now handling 50,000 tonnes of food waste every year: the Miller Waste site in Dartmouth and the New Era facility in Goodwood. The city bought the New Era operation in December and will take over management in September.

So it's not just what we may need, but how we want to operate. What will be our role? - Coun. Jennifer Watts

Neither facility meets 2010 provincial guidelines for composting and will need significant upgrades to continue operating after 2019. That's the provincial deadline for new and existing facilities to meet the regulations.

"It's an interesting opportunity for us to take stock of where we've been, how we want to look at the composting program we have, and where we need to move into the future," said Watts.

A review of the facilities recommends several options; they all envision shutting down the existing New Era plant.

One options involves building a replacement on the existing 33-hectare site in Goodwood.

To ensure the Miller Waste operation in Burnside meets new separation regulations, the report recommends its organic material finish composting at a farm site.

An agricultural location would allow a different technology called anaerobic digestion to be used, creating a better quality of compost.

$1 million in repairs needed

The report says the city's new composting system should initially handle 60,000 tonnes a year and be expandable up to 75,000 tonnes a year.

Costs for the eight options councillors will consider range from $148 a tonne to $209 a tonne. Both plants will also need about $1 million in repairs before any new system is up and running.

Debate on the report will begin Thursday afternoon at an environment committee meeting, but final decisions will have to be made by regional council.

Watts said council could decide to ask the private sector to submit ideas for revamping the composting system.

"So it's not just what we may need, but how we want to operate. What will be our role?" asked Watts.