Covanta extends partnership with Florida county

Covanta, a sustainable waste and energy solutions provider based in Morristown, New Jersey, says it has reached an agreement to extend its public-private partnership with the Lee County Solid Waste Resource Recovery Facility through 2031. The Fort Meyers, Florida, facility is owned by Lee County and operated by Covanta.

According to a news release from Covanta, the original contract had been set to expire in 2024. The new agreement includes an optional four-year extension. 

"Our partnership with Covanta at the Resource Recovery Facility ensures the community has a responsible, long-term environmental and economic solution for our waste disposal," says Doug Whitehead, director of solid waste at Lee County.

The facility processes more than 622,000 tons of waste annually generated by residents of Hendry annd Lee counties to produce 57 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 32,700 homes for a year, Covanta says. It also recovers 21,500 tons of metal for recycling annually, equal to building 16,000 cars.

"We are pleased to build on our partnership with Lee County to keep providing the community with a smart, sustainable solution for waste while also contributing to a cleaner environment by keeping up to 90 percent of waste out of landfills," says Derek Veenhof, Covanta executive vice president and chief operating officer.