Covanta and the Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority (LCSWMA), based in Lancaster, PA announced that emissions data for LCSWMA’s two Waste-to-Energy facilities: the Lancaster Waste-to-Energy (WTE) Facility, located in Bainbridge, PA, and the Susquehanna Resource Management Complex (SRMC), located in Harrisburg, PA is now available to the public online on Covanta’s facility webpages. This is the very same data that operators at the two waste-to-energy facilities see to monitor operational performance and allows for residents to have a virtual seat in the control room to experience the science behind sustainable waste management.
“At LCSWMA, we care deeply about the people we serve and believe that by making this data accessible we are providing our neighbors with a new level of transparency into our operations,” said Robert Zorbaugh, chief executive officer of LCSWMA. “Waste-to-energy is a cornerstone of LCSWMA’s sustainable solid waste management system and operates under stringent guidelines. We hope that the data will shine a light on the innermost workings of these facilities and foster a new understanding of the levels of safety and accountability employed at these sites on a daily basis.”
“While there is no regulatory requirement for us to release this information, we’re doing it because we believe it is important to be transparent to the communities we serve. Visitors to the facilities’ webpages can view emissions data 24/7, 365 days a year and will see our operating emissions data. We’re proud to be part of the community we serve – and this helps show our commitment.” continued David Sharp, director of area asset management at Covanta.
Continuous emissions monitoring is an important tool in determining a waste-to-energy facility’s compliance with the strict emission limits set forth in its operating permit established in accordance with the federal Clean Air Act and Pennsylvania’s strict regulatory requirements. The Lancaster Waste-to-Energy Facility and Susquehanna Resource Management Complex, which are owned by LCSWMA and operated by Covanta, serve the residents of Lancaster and Dauphin counties with reliable and sustainable waste management. In total, both facilities process 669,000 tons of waste annually, which is equivalent to avoiding 605,800 tons of greenhouse gases by keeping waste out of landfills.