Land, water, power and people: these are among Spokane’s greatest assets. While leading the Intermountain West in these primary resources, the City recognizes that the future lies in the ability to capture and create the green economy. By rethinking the entire waste stream in terms of sustainable materials, there is no garbage, only secondary resources as feedstocks which fuel the local economy. Over the last 25 years, they have quietly and efficiently disposed of solid waste while generating enough renewable electricity to power 13,000 homes per year. Waste to Energy (WTE) is not only a key strategy for renewable energy and low greenhouse gas emissions, it also creates opportunities for metals recovery, heat and electricity from steam, and reuse of the resulting ash. China’s rejection of the US’s recycling stream, while disruptive, is an opportunity. A privately-operated Materials Recovery Facility was wisely co-located adjacent to the City’s WTE facility, further enhancing the feedstock resources available on site. The city, county, and private businesses partner with the solid waste system, as well as the joint County-City Public Development Authority to attract businesses with an interest in participating in industrial symbiosis. In addition to traditional solid waste streams, holistic materials management includes wastewater, food waste, and biosolids—which in turn, can be re-worked as Renewable Natural Gas.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify opportunities to repurpose waste into a resource stream for reuse benefit and economic development.

2. Respond to changes in the recycling commodities market to reevaluate and deploy enhanced recycling diversion programs.

3. Educate elected officials, administrators and the public on the benefits and application of a circular economy.

Contributor/Source

Cadie Olsen;Scott Simmons

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