When it comes to waste management, we have all learned the 3 Rs: reduce, reuse, recycle (practiced in that order please). But there is another R on the block that should not be overlooked. Waste to Energy (WTE) facilities convert non-recycled waste into renewable energy. This approach to waste management provides a cost effective alternative to landfilling while creating additional economic benefits to local economies. According to a recent study by the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) economic benefits include:
- Creating full time jobs for operation and maintenance of facilities – for the most part, salaried skilled positions with relatively high pay.
- Monies spent on waste disposal through WTE can be kept in the local economy whereas many communities choose to dispose of waste in remote regional landfills.
- Development of a WTE facility creates hundreds of construction jobs.
Source: Environmental Leader
By Laura M. Thompson, PhD