Glossary and abbreviations

The residue or "digested" waste produced by methane production from organic or biodegradable waste. Digestate is made up of excess bacteria, organic matter that has not broken down and mineralized matter. After treatment, it can be used as compost.

The generic name of a family of chlorinated organic substances that are a byproduct of combustion processes. Dioxins are created by the combustion of products containing chlorine. Sources include cement plants, herbicide and pesticide manufacturing, paper pulp bleaching, foundries, metallurgy, steelmaking, waste incinerators, etc. They can also be produced by hard-to-evaluate natural sources such as forest fires and volcanic eruptions and by scattered sources such as open-air burning, i.e., garden, chimney and pit fires. Of the 210 existing dioxins, 17 are considered toxic.

Comprising a central production plant and a reticulated network, they provide heating and air conditioning to public and private institutions (schools, hospitals, offices and homes).