YORK COUNTY SOLID WASTE AUTHORITY AWARDS SERVICE AGREEMENT
FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE YORK COUNTY RESOURCE RECOVERY CENTER The York County Solid Waste Authority approved a professional services agreement at its March public meeting to hire engineer consulting firm Buchart Horn, Inc. to assist with design, permitting, and construction of site improvements to the York County Resource Recovery Center (YCRRC). The service agreement authorizes Buchart Horn to proceed with the initial planning phase of the site improvements project. When fully implemented, the project is expected to span a maximum of four years from initial planning to completion. More than 26,000 man-hours of engineering work will be invested in this project which will also generate additional jobs locally when the construction phase begins.

 

In 2009, the Authority put plans for an expansion of the YCRRC on hold based on several factors including a decrease in generation rates for municipal solid waste, the escalation of estimated construction costs and an overall increase in recycling. The Authority has since been tracking municipal waste generation in York County to ensure adequate available capacity at the facility to meet the county’s waste management needs. In 2011, the Authority completed a study of the life-cycle cost benefits of various YCRRC development scenarios for the purpose of providing future long-term municipal waste management for York County. Based on available capacity estimates and the life-cycle assessment, the Authority, through this service agreement and construction of the planned improvements, is setting the groundwork for future expansion of the YCRRC. 

Buchart Horn’s scope of work includes facility and site improvements such as expansion of the tipping floor, review of the ash handling process, wastewater effluent reuse, supplemental water, new boiler water treatment system, reconfiguration of site roadways and relocation of vehicle scales, storm water management, new maintenance shop/warehouse and education center, and numerous other improvements. Notes Dave Vollero, Authority Executive Director, "The planning, permitting, financing and procurement steps necessary to ensure facility life extension will require extensive preparation and effort. Our goal is to build on what we know is a proven technology in a way that is the most cost-effective and environmentally efficient approach to managing York County’s municipal solid waste for the long-term.” 

 

The initial planning phase of Buchart Horn’s efforts include evaluating selected alternatives relative to site improvements and finalizing the site layout plan including the size and locations of all buildings and structures as well as the layout of roadways, major utility lines, storm water management features and other major site improvements. Completion of the planning phase is targeted for this fall.

 

The YCRRC has been in operation for 23 years. During that time the facility has converted more than 9 million tons of municipal solid waste to more than 4.7 billion kilowatt hours of “green” energy.  The environmental and economic benefits of waste-to-energy have made--and continue to make--good sense for York County. Annually, the York County Resource Recovery Center saves more than 13 acres of land 35 feet deep; saves fossil fuels amounting to the equivalent of 375,000 barrels of oil and recovers nearly 20,000 tons of ferrous and non-ferrous metals which are then recycled. With three combustion units in operation, the RRC produces enough electricity to continuously power 20,000 homes.  The facility uses best available control technology to manage air emissions and has an outstanding environmental track record.