BURLINGTON, ONTARIO, Oct. 3, 2014 -- The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) has selected Anaergia Inc., a clean energy company, to enter into negotiations for the design of an Organic Waste Receiving and Processing Facility and modification of two anaerobic digesters, and for the long-term supply of organic waste material to the Calumet Water Reclamation Plant (CWRP).
CWRP's wastewater reclamation operations are among the largest in North America, and this project will help MWRD utilize this facility as a resource recovery and energy generation center. CWRP's new organic facility will have the capacity to process 300 tons per day of Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste (OFMSW) plus liquid waste and fats, oils and grease (FOG).
The OFMSW will serve as feedstock to produce additional biogas in CWRP's anaerobic digesters. The OFMSW will be produced at an existing off-site solid waste facility utilizing Anaergia's patented Organics Extrusion Press (OREX™), a device that separates unsorted municipal waste into wet organic and dry fractions.
On-site improvements at CWRP will include new capabilities for organic feedstock reception, storage and cleaning as well as digester modifications. Two of Calumet's existing digesters will be modified to enable dedicated digestion of the external organic feedstock utilizing Anaergia's proprietary high solid mixing system. By introducing external organic material for digestion, CWRP will more than double its renewable biogas production.
This project will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A reduction of approximately 99,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents being released into the environment per year is expected due to the diversion of the organic waste material from landfills, which is equivalent to taking more that approximately 19,000 vehicles off the road. It is also expected that the project will result in 20 to 30 construction jobs, 20 professional services jobs, and six to eight permanent jobs.
"The MWRD is moving away from the old idea of viewing sewage as a waste product to be disposed of, and instead seeing opportunities for recovery of resources and production of energy," said Kathleen Therese Meany, president of the Board of Commissioners. "The Illinois state legislature recently granted the MWRD the authority to actively engage in resource recovery. This is a landmark project for Cook County and the State of Illinois that will act as a catalyst for further job growth in organics recycling and green energy production.”
See also:
"MWRD celebrates 125 years in operation"
"Anaergia reorganizes management structure, appoints new CEO"
About the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
Established in 1889, MWRD is an award-winning, special purpose government agency responsible for wastewater treatment and stormwater management in an 883.5 square mile service area in Cook County, Illinois. The MWRD’s mission is to protect the health and safety of the public in its service area, the quality of the water supply source (Lake Michigan), improve and protect the quality of water in watercourses, protect businesses and homes from flood damages, and manage water as a vital resource. The MWRD is committed to achieving the highest standards of excellence in fulfilling its mission. For more information, visit www.mwrd.org.
About Anaergia
Anaergia Inc. specializes in recovering value from waste for the municipal, industrial, and agriculture sectors worldwide. Through its proven portfolio of proprietary technologies, Anaergia's integrated solutions create value for its customers in the forms of clean water, renewable energy, and quality fertilizers while dramatically reducing the costs of waste management. Anaergia's global headquarters are located in Burlington, Ontario, Canada, with regional lead offices in the United States, Germany and China and services through 14 offices globally. Anaergia technologies are in use at hundreds of resource recovery facilities worldwide, reducing greenhouse gas emissions while creating new revenue sources for its clients. For more information, visit www.anaergia.com.
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