Waste Management of Des Moines (Iowa) has announced an expansion to the Des Moines Metro Methane Recovery Facility at the Metro Park East landfill in Polk County, Iowa. The plant is a result of a private-public partnership between Waste Management and Metro Waste Authority. Waste Management is a developer, operator and owner of more than 100 landfill gas-to-energy facilities in the United States.
When complete, the facility expansion will increase the amount of energy produced from landfill gas that is converted into reusable energy. Landfill gas-to-energy plants divert landfill gas to the facility where it is cleaned before being converted into reusable energy.
Currently, the plant generates 6.4 megawatts of energy, and the new plant is expected increase this number to 11.2 megawatts. The electricity powers 6,400 homes, with that number expected to increase to 11,200 after the expansion. The electricity produced by the new facility is delivered to the Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska (MEAN), a contract secured by Metro Waste Authority.
The new plant will add three more engines that will convert the gas into energy, with room for a fourth in the future. The industrial engines are fueled using landfill gas, which forms as a result of the decomposition of waste.
“This partnership allows Metro Waste Authority to leverage Waste Management expertise while meeting our Environmental Management System goal of reducing greenhouse gases,” explains Thomas Hadden, Metro Waste Authority executive director. “It also provides Metro Waste with another source of revenue to offset operational costs.”
Waste Management is the operator of the gas plant and Metro Waste Authority owns and operates the landfill.
Get curated news on YOUR industry.
Enter your email to receive our newsletters.Latest from Waste Today
- Recology drivers win a record 12 Driver of the Year trophies
- Michigan county opens foam polystyrene drop-off
- NWRA, Informa sign 8-year agreement to grow WasteExpo
- Bomag to showcase innovations on the National Mall
- IWS’ Josh Haraf receives 40 Under 40 award
- NWRA, SWANA to partner on safety, education and advocacy
- Kenworth introduces new L770 and L770E refuse trucks at WasteExpo
- Caterpillar announces collision warning system, other technology for medium wheel loaders