Waste-to-Energy Virtual Tour

What Happens Behind the Scenes at a Waste to Energy Facility?

Overview of Waste Processing

• The process begins with trucks arriving at the facility, where they are weighed and checked in before unloading waste onto the tipping floor.

• Unacceptable items are visually inspected and removed for recycling or proper disposal before the waste is pushed into a storage pit for thorough mixing.

Combustion Process

• Waste is loaded into hoppers and transported to the combustion chamber, where it is combusted at approximately 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit in a self-sustaining process.

• The heat generated from combustion converts water in steel tube-lined walls into steam, which drives a turbine generator to produce electricity or may be used directly for heating.

Efficiency and Byproducts

• After combustion, waste volume is reduced by 90%, leaving behind inert ash and metals; collected metals are sold for recycling while ash is reused or sent to landfill as non-hazardous waste.

• Advanced air pollution control equipment ensures emissions remain well below safety limits; lime neutralizes acid gases while activated carbon controls heavy metals.

Emission Monitoring and Environmental Impact

• A real-time continuous emission monitoring system oversees emissions, steam flow, and other automated systems within the facility.

• Waste-to-energy technology is recognized for its role in mitigating climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional energy generation methods.