Trash to Treasure:Central Ohio Resource Transformation Center

Presented by:Michael D. Long, P.E.

Executive Director, SWACO

Presented at:Waste to Profit Collaboration Opportunities

Exploratory Meeting

April 12, 2007

SWACO• Unit of local government created by Ohio

General Assembly in 1988 (Am. Sub. HB 592)– 51 similar agencies across Ohio

• Job is to “Reduce reliance on landfills” (ORC 3734.50)– GOALS: Reduce, Reuse & Recycle

•25% residential/commercial

• 65% industrial

• Certify 10 years disposal capacity

In Summary

• We are a steady state AT BEST

• Landfill life is predictable – 25 years

• Conventional thinking will not work

• We will not be happy when its gone!

SWACO’s Changing Mission

• To own and operate one of the largest publicly owned landfills in U.S.

• To reduce reliance on landfills.• To find innovative and cost-effective

ways to reduce the waste stream.• To develop projects that protect the

environment, produce energy, and increase economic development and employment.

THE NEW GOAL:

THE NEW GOAL:

Moving to ZERO

New goals require

New thinking

New tools

MISSION

Demonstrate an integrated systems approach for converting waste into value through technological innovation and effective public-private collaboration

New Thinking“ Industrial Ecology”

• material and energy flow studies ("industrial metabolism") 

• dematerialization and decarbonization  • technological change and the environment  • life-cycle planning, design and assessment  • design for the environment ("eco-design") • extended producer responsibility ("product stewardship")  • product-oriented environmental policy • eco-efficiency  • eco-industrial parks ("industrial symbiosis")

– Symbiosis means co-existence between diverse organisms in which each may benefit from the other

The Central OhioResource Transformation

Center

a SYSTEM of

Eco-Industrial Park(s)

• 232 Acres available for development• Buildings to meet LEED standards• Buildings to be “fueled” by landfill gas•Campus like setting•Freeway access within ¼ mile

the PYRAMID Resource Center @ SWACO

The Columbus “Green”

Business Park

Waste = FoodA powerful concept

WOW!

A New Computer!

WASTE or FOOD?

Energy MarketsEnergy Markets

Restaurants& Groceries Restaurants& Groceries

Zoo, Racetrack& Fairgrounds

Zoo, Racetrack& Fairgrounds

ResidentialYard WasteResidentialYard Waste

LandfillLandfill

Material MarketsMaterial Markets

Methane& CO2

Businesses Businesses

Dry Ice, Greenhouse

s

Dry Ice, Greenhouse

s

Fuel Cell R&D

H2

IC Engine,Microturbineor Fuel Cell

IC Engine,Microturbineor Fuel Cell

BioDiesel Processing

PureMethanol

Industrial & Municipal Sources

Industrial & Municipal Sources

Fuel Pellets

Building Materials,Furniture

Building Materials,Furniture

Food Grade

CO2

Food &Biodegradable

Plastics

ResidualsResiduals

OrganicWastes

MixedSolid

Wastes

Electric Power Electric Power

Paper

Metals

MaterialRecoveryMaterial

Recovery

AnaerobicDigester

AnaerobicDigester

Fluff ProcessFluff Process

Plastics

SoilAmendments

Schools Schools PlasticWastes

PaperWastes

Natural GasNatural Gas

Gas Cleaning System

Gas Cleaning System

PaperRecycling

PaperRecycling

ICFPlantICF

Plant

PlasticLumber

Plant

PlasticLumber

Plant

Vehicles Vehicles

Bags

A Lot of Food