Canadian firm Enerkem Inc said on Friday it has started producing cellulosic ethanol from solid waste at a commercial-scale plant in Edmonton, Alberta.

The waste-to-biofuels and chemicals company plans to “progressively increase” production at the facility while it prepares to build more plants domestically and internationally, said president and CEO Vincent Chornet. According to Enerkem, the Edmonton site is the first commercial-scale factory in the world for the production of cellulosic ethanol from non-recyclable, non-compostable mixed municipal solid waste.

"The commercial production of cellulosic ethanol at our facility in Edmonton marks a landmark moment for our company as well as our customers in the waste management and petrochemical sectors