Largest US MSW Waste-to-Energy Digester Begins Construction in California

A few years ago it would have been rare to hear of Waste Diversion from Landfill as a driver for the implementation of waste treatment facilities in the US, but it is becoming more common in a number of states, and the reasoning for minimizing waste to landfill seems to be much as it has been, as implemented throughout Europe. 

(Video shows a different AD Plant in construction.)

So, it is no longer just a case of increasing recycling, which of course is a long standing aim, it is also about conserving landfill void space, and not putting additional grounwater at risk with a proliferation of new landfill sites.

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Nation's Largest Commercial High Solid Waste-to-Energy Digester Begins ...

MarketWatch (press release)

"SACRAMENTO, Calif., Jun 07, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- 

Clean World Partners and Atlas Disposal Industries today broke ground on construction of the nation's largest commercial-scale, high solids anaerobic digestion (AD) system, and on California's first AD-based Renewable Natural Gas Fueling Station.

Clean World Partners' Organic Waste Recycling Center at the South Area Transfer Station in Sacramento will convert 25 tons of food waste per day collected by Atlas Disposal from area food processing companies, restaurants and supermarkets into renewable natural gas. In 2013, the facility will be expanded to process 100 tons of waste per day, making it the largest commercial-scale, high solids AD system in the United States.

When complete, the Organic Waste Recycling Center will replace 1 million gallons of diesel per year with renewable natural gas and produce 2 million kilowatt hours of electricity per year.

Atlas' Renewable Natural Gas Fueling Station will use natural gas produced by the digestion system to fuel the company's clean-fuel fleet, as well as vehicles from area jurisdictions and agencies. Natural gas produced from the initial 25-ton per day operation would fuel approximately 80 school buses for one year.

Clean World's Organic Waste Recycling Center is based on AD technology developed at UC Davis to convert food waste, agricultural residue and other organic waste into renewable energy, fertilizer and soil enhancements. The South Area Transfer Station system when built out will divert nearly 37,000 tons of waste annually from landfills.

"Our development of this facility makes clear the viability of this technology," said Michele Wong, CEO of Clean World Partners. "Our systems are adaptable to a wide range of situations and we can get them up and running quickly. We're especially excited with this center about the use of renewable natural gas as vehicle fuel."

The project's first phase is expected to be completed this summer.

"We're proud of our involvement in developing these cutting-edge facilities," said Dave Sikich, CEO of Atlas Disposal. "By using renewable natural gas to fuel more vehicles, we're helping to improve our region's air quality."
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/nations-largest-commercial-high-solid-waste-to-energy-digester-begins-construction-2012-06-07

An AD in Edinburgh UK

Although California is also to get its first AD-based Renewable Natural Gas Fueling Station this is only a small beginning when you consider the huge consumption of mineral oil based gasoline by the state's vehicles. Nevertheless, this is a first and a move in the direction of renewable energy.