Integrating sustainable design
Waste heat from gas engines is used to dry biosolids, maximizing resource efficiency and reducing environmental impact.
Transforming waste into renewable power
Facing capacity and cost challenges, Catawba County sought a sustainable solution to manage biosolids at its composting facility. The county designed a new biosolids processing facility that converts organic waste into renewable energy, integrating industry, research and resource recovery under one green vision.
Generating local power
Landfill gas combustion produces around 3 megawatts of electricity, enough to power more than 1,000 area homes.
Collaborating for innovation
In partnership with Appalachian State University, the project supports biodiesel research and local research opportunities.
Building a circular economy
Expansion plans include a bioenergy plant for wood waste, advancing Catawba’s vision of an industrial ecology model.
The Catawba County Ecocomplex demonstrates how industrial ecology can create economic, environmental and social value. “Using renewable energy to process biosolids into a product that can be used as fertilizer for various agricultural needs is an innovative and sustainable concept,” says Dr. Richard Tsang, CDM Smith biosolids specialist. The project’s integrated approach continues to attract interest from communities seeking resilient, sustainable solutions.