Maryland’s Washington County and America First Inc. are launching a waste-to-energy operation.

The public-private partnership will build a facility to convert municipal solid waste (MSW) into refuse-derived fuel (RDF), according to a news release. In the second phase the partnership will construct a full-scale gasification plant.

The first phase will begin six to eight months after ground breaking, and the second phase will come 12-18 months after ground breaking.

Washington County is providing the location and MSW. America First will secure the funding for completing the project. The county bears no financial risk.

When the facility starts up the county estimates it will generate profits of up to $200,000 through the supply of RDF. It should employ 40 to 70 people.