The Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio today announced a $300 million project to recycle landfill waste. SWACO executive Ron Mills says a Florida company will pay to build a plant and then buy at least 1,000 tons of waste each day to convert to natural gas and oil. Mills calls the deal a game-changer for SWACO. "New, very innovative way to manage our refuse and to turn if from something that we have to spend public dollars to get rid of into something we can generate dollars to promote recycling, sustainable use." says Mills. Team Gemini of Florida, plans to develop an industrial park across the street from the landfill on London-Groveport Road and use some of the energy generated from landfill waste for a greenhouse and fish farm. Mills says the project will eliminate the need for future expansion of the landfill.
"So the answer is no we will not need additional landfill capacity under even the most conservative estimation."
The waste to energy project is expected to be completed by 2014. Gemini predicts creation of 300 jobs with an average salary of $38,000 per year.