Oregon Recycler Installs Solar Panels

Rogue Disposal & Recycling Inc., Medford, Ore., is using solar panels to produce clean, renewable energy and reduce greenhouse gases and energy reliance on fossil fuels. By installing a photovoltaic (PV) power system to convert sunlight directly into electricity at the Rogue Transfer & Recycling Station, the company is projected to produce 75,500 kilowatt hours of electricity each year.

The project was made possible due to several Oregon companies, including funding from an Energy Trust of Oregon grant. Rogue Disposal & Recycling worked with Portland's Tanner Creek Energy, a division of Christenson Electric, on a design/build basis. The PV units were manufactured by SolarWorld in Hillsboro, and the PV-powered inverters were built in Bend, Ore.

"Rogue Disposal and Recycling works hard to implement practical, effective technologies that help improve and protect the environment. Utilizing solar energy is just part of our 'we do that' theme of environmental conscience that is stamped on all we do," says Lee Fortier, engineering manager of Rogue Disposal & Recycling Inc.

A PV system uses a linked collection of solar panels to convert sunlight into electricity. According to Rogue, the new solar powered system is one of the company’s environmental initiatives in its goal to be the greenest company in Southern Oregon. The company also has added a waste collection truck powered entirely by compressed natural gas (CNG), completed truck exhaust retrofitting and a new wheel wash system to reduce particulate emissions, built a new road to relieve congestion and created the Dry Creek Landfill Inc. methane gas-to-energy facility. The Oregon Dept. of Environmental Quality (DEQ) awarded the company the Certificate of Appreciation for Air Quality Excellence for its leadership.

Rogue Disposal & Recycling, founded in 1938, provides a wide variety of services including a full range of residential, commercial and industrial solid waste collection; curbside commingled household recycling pickup; residential and commercial medical waste service; confidential on-site document shredding; curbside yard debris collection; large item and extra rubbish removal; and other services.