Recycling project discussed

By KURT NESBITT

Journal Staff Writer

REDWOOD FALLS -- With a viability study completed and several counties in southwestern Minnesota supporting the idea of waste-to-energy facility, the Southwest Regional Solid Waste Commission is now looking to counties for help in taking another step forward.

Last summer, officials in 17 counties in southwestern Minnesota -- including Brown County -- were approached by Redwood County officials about supporting a waste-to-energy facility and recycling center project near Lamberton.

The commission recently published an 85-page study, outlining, among other things, the direction that it hopes the project will take and the potential benefits to the counties that support it.

If it materializes, the facility will take in certain kinds of garbage from area landfills and burn it to generate electricity and steam. The project is expected to cost $37 million, according to the study.

The idea won lukewarm support from Brown County commissioners, although the board voted to adopt a resolution supporting the study last August.

The board recently chose to wait for a recommendation from the county solid waste advisory committee before taking any action on the study. The committee is expected to meet Monday night.

The idea has won support from Lincoln, Murray, Jackson, Pipestone, Yellow Medicine and Meeker counties. Chippewa County has not yet taken a vote. Officials in Lyon and Rock counties have indicated they will not support a garbage-burning facility in Lamberton.

According to the study, the project could be financed, designed, built and operating halfway through 2007, provided it hits no snags along the way. Each government body that decides to support the facility may have to make some assurance that they will contribute enough waste for the incinerator to burn.

The commission is looking for state and federal grants to help fund the project. According to the report, the project might need some lobbying effort at the State Capitol next year to get state funding.

The study concluded that the 17 counties in the area landfill 145,000 tons of garbage each year. It recommended a recycling facility capable of processing 350 tons of old corrugated cardboard, aluminum and other non-processible materials a day.

Of that 350 tons, the study said about 249 could be burned in the incinerator, giving the facility the ability to generate 6.5 megawatts of electricity, which, in turn could bring in $2.6 million from the sale of the power.

The study also found that the facility could help bring jobs to the Lamberton area and provide low-cost processed steam used in some types of industrial processes.

If each of the 17 interested counties contributes $9,300, the commission plans to hire a technical consultant to negotiate a long-term design, construction and operating agreement for the project, the study said.

The Brown County Solid Waste Advisory Commission will meet at 7 p.m. Monday at the Brown County courthouse.