OCRRA extends contract with waste-to-energy facility operator Covanta

ONONDAGA, N.Y. — The board of directors of the Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency (OCRRA) has approved an amended operating agreement with Covanta, the operator of the local waste-to-energy (WTE) facility in the town of Onondaga.

The approval extends their agreement for an additional 20 years.

OCRRA announced the agreement in a news release distributed early Wednesday evening.

The partnership between OCRRA and Covanta started in the early 1990s, the agency said.

Morristown, N.J.–based Covanta (NYSE: CVA) describes itself as one of the “world’s largest” owners and operators of facilities used for the conversion of waste-to-energy and other waste disposal and renewable-energy production businesses.

The waste-to-energy process has proven over the past 20 years that it is a “safe and effective” technology that turns trash into electricity, Mark Donnelly, OCRRA executive director, said in the news release.

“It saves natural resources and funds our community’s award-winning recycling programs, which is why OCRRA is pleased to announce a contract extension with Covanta, our long-time partner in sustainable-waste solutions,” said Donnelly.

Covanta is “pleased” to have reached an agreement that will continue its partnership with Onondaga County and OCRRA, Joey Neuhoff, vice president of client-business management at Covanta, said in the OCRRA news release.

“The county and its residents have established a world-class sustainable waste management system that is a true model to be emulated by communities around the world. We are proud of our contributions over the last 20 years by providing a safe and environmentally responsible means of waste disposal and a source of clean energy and look forward to serving the community for another 20,” said Neuhoff.

Since its opening, the local WTE facility has converted more than 6.5 million tons of solid waste into more than 4 million megawatt hours of electricity, which is “enough to power approximately 600,000 homes for one year,” according to the OCRRA news release.

It has also reduced greenhouse gases by 6.5 million tons, which is the equivalent of the annual greenhouse gases from about 1.3 million passenger vehicles, the agency said.

The WTE facility has also recycled about 190,000 tons of metal, which is “enough to build over 150,000 automobiles,” OCRRA said.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com