What does a WTE facility look like in practice?

The most recent plant in the US was built in Florida in 2015 by Solid Waste Authority (SWA) of Palm Beach County to expand its award-winning solid waste management system, adding a new waste-to-energy facility: the first of its kind to be built in the United States in more than 15 years. This 3,000-ton-per-day mass burn renewable energy facility now processes solid waste for the county’s 1.3 million residents and businesses. With the capacity to process 1 million tons of municipal solid waste per year, the renewable energy plant generates approx­i­mately 75 megawatts, enough electricity to power 44,000 homes, and signif­i­cantly reduces landfilled waste in Palm Beach County by up to 90 percent.

How do you bring a WTE facility to life?

Contracts for these plants are often a public-private partnership using a design-build-operate project delivery. Contracts are usually a joint venture between engineers, construc­tors and operators, and design/construc­tion provisions govern until a commis­sion­ing test to satisfy all guarantees of plant performance. Following commis­sion­ing, or acceptance, the commercial plant operating period begins, which is usually a 20 year initial operating term. Reach out to our solid waste experts for more information on typical service agreement terms, vendor respon­si­bil­i­ties, and owner respon­si­bil­i­ties for this type of project delivery.

Are there other benefits of WTE?

Social WTE benefits are context-dependent, and successful imple­men­ta­tion requires careful planning, transparent commu­ni­ca­tion with the community, and adhering to envi­ron­men­tal and safety regulations. If implemented properly, these facilities have numerous community benefits.

The development, construc­tion and operation of WTE facilities open employment oppor­tu­ni­ties across sectors, including engineering, construc­tion, operations, maintenance, and support services. This can contribute to local economic development and improve employment prospects for residents. By reducing the reliance on landfills, WTE facilities help optimize land use, which can be valuable in densely populated areas to preserve space for recreation or agriculture.

The presence of these facilities can also serve as an opportunity to educate the community about waste management practices, recycling, and the importance of reducing waste. Increased awareness can lead to more responsible waste disposal habits among residents. Proper waste management can also contribute to public health and safety by minimizing the risks associated with uncon­trolled waste disposal.