Waste-to-Energy
Waste-to-energy facilities are not new to our counties or state. Minnesota currently has 10 operating plants. From August 1989 to August 2009 about 45,000 tons of waste per year was shipped from Tri-County to a facility that converted the garbage to fuel for the Great River Energy Power Plant in Elk River. Also for several years about 6,500 tons per year went to a burner in Perham, Minnesota. September 1, 2009 Tri-County let those two agreements expire and signed an agreement to ship waste to an incinerator operated by Pope/Douglas Solid Waste in Alexandria.
Pope/Douglas has been in operation for over 20 years. This waste-to-energy facility creates steam which is used by a 3M manufacturing plant and also a nearby hospital and school. Pope/Douglas was looking at expanding the plant because waste volumes are growing and the steam customers are expanding and need additional steam. Pope/Douglas approached Tri-County about delivering waste to Alexandria. The result was a decision to speed up the expansion at Alexandria and to have Tri-County use the new burning capacity once the expansion is complete.
Pope/Douglas’ expansion was completed the summer of 2011. Starting September 1, 2009 Tri-County will deliver 4,000 tons per month. This is a 20 year agreement. Over time as the Alexandria area grows, Tri-County will reduce delivery to make sure Pope/Douglas can service the needs of those two Counties. After recycling and waste reduction, the Pope/Douglas Waste-to-Energy plant should be able to provide at least half the capacity needed to process and dispose of waste generated in Benton, Sherburne and Stearns Counties for many years.
Visit the Pope/Douglas web site at www.popedouglasrecycle.com
Why incineration?
Although landfilling is cheaper in the short term, issues arise with long term care and maintenance. It just seems to be a waste of resources to landfill when our garbage can be burned to produce power – both steam and electricity. Waste-to-Energy is renewable energy; it is local and readily available.
Is it safe?
Yes, the waste-to-energy plants in Minnesota meet stringent air quality requirements. With the required pollution control equipment, a 1000-ton per day waste incinerator produces fewer pollutants than a single backyard burn barrel.
- Emissions from waste-to-Energy plants are a small fraction of the emissions coming from coal-fired plants. Dioxin/furan emissions from BOTH coal-fired and WTE plants are a small fraction of the documented total U.S. emissions.
- Between 1990 and 2000, WTE plants reduced emissions: Lead by 91%, Mercury by 95% and Dioxin/furans by 99%.
How do we manage garbage now?
About 40% is recycled. The remainder is sent to a Waste-to-Energy (WTE) incinerator or landfills.
Why don’t we just Reduce, Reuse and Recycle?
We have seen recycling rates flatten out as we reach 35% to 40%. We may be near the practical limits for waste reduction, reuse, and recycling. Over the last fifteen years, very few waste facilities have been built by either government or private sector. This leaves few disposal options. The Tri-County Commission strongly feels that it must look at long-term disposal needs and, if necessary, build a facility to ensure that Central Minnesota residents will have economically viable and environmentally safe waste disposal now and in the future.