Virginia counties explore waste-to-energy project following landfill closure

Since the closure of the Bristol, Virginia, landfill last year, area disposal costs have taken a sharp jump. As reported by SWVA Today, counties have begun to explore alternatives to landfill use, including the possibility of constructing a regional incinerator.

Bland, Smyth, Washington and Wythe counties plan to share the costs of a study to assess the benefits of an incinerator for waste disposal.

The study, which would be performed by AECOM, a Dallas-based infrastructure consulting firm, would report on “the benefits and drawbacks of the project before dedicating a large amount of funding for a full study,” reports SWVA Today.

In a letter from AECOM to Smyth County Administrator Shawn Utt, the firm described the project as a potential waste-to-energy imitative that would serve as an alternative to landfill use. The letter also highlighted the environmental benefits of such a project, including safe disposal of waste, a reduction in the amount of land needed to landfill the counties’ waste, the generation of clean renewable energy and a cut in the state’s reliance on electricity generated by gas and oil.

As opposed to solar projects, AECOM says a waste-to-energy generator could produce electricity 24/7 regardless of the weather.

AECOM has agreed to undertake the project for $20,000. Utt anticipates Smyth, Washington and Wythe counties would pay $6,000 each, and Bland County would contribute $2,000.

According to SWVA Today, Utt told officials that the Mount Rogers Planning District Commission is working with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and Virginia Energy to see if grant funds are available to pay for a full study should AECOM’s report indicate the idea is worth pursuing.

Assistant County Administrator Clegg Williams told the Smyth supervisors that officials are also researching recycling opportunities.