Resource Recovery Facility
Since 1995, the Resource Recovery Facility has processed approximately 600,000 tons per year of the County’s waste. At the transfer station, processible waste is compacted into intermodal rail containers for transport by rail to the Resource Recovery Facility.
Three water wall furnaces, each capable of processing 600 tons of waste per day, capture and concentrate the heat of combustion to generate steam to spin a turbine generator capable of producing up to 67 megawatts of electricity, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year. That is enough electricity to power 27,000 homes or charge 82,000 electric vehicles for one year. The Resource Recovery Facility also captures and recycles 13,500 tons of metal annually - enough to build 11,000 cars.
The Resource Recovery Facility’s emission control system was upgraded to an LN™ (Low NOx) system, earning the facility a 2014 US EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) Clean Air Technology Award. The LN™ (Low NOx) system significantly reduces nitrogen oxide emissions.
The Resource Recovery Facility is owned by Montgomery County and operated by Covanta, a member of the Maryland Green Registry.
