Burning Up the Slopes

Many waste firms claim that modern waste-to-energy (WTE) facilities are clean, safe assets to the community, but the Amagerforbraending project in Copenhagen, Denmark, may take that pitch to a new level. The plant, housed in a mountainous, distinctive building actually doubles as an artificial alpine ski slope.

While WTE plants are far more common and accepted in Europe (where 54 percent of waste is incinerated), the design by the Bjarke Ingels Group is still a bold proposal, situating the park/plant in the heart of Copenhagen, bridging industrial and residential sectors.

The roof of the facility will be frosted with “recycled synthetic granular” snow and features bunny hills, a range of downhill slopes and moguls. Row upon row of built-in planters will soften the facility’s walls by coating it with greenery. An elevator running up the side of the distinctive smokestack gives ascending skiers a view of the operations of the plant.

And about that smokestack: To highlight the fact that the plant’s only emission is carbon dioxide and water vapor, the stack will emit enormous vapor rings, each representing one ton of carbon. Lasers may be used to illuminate the rings at night.

I smell a Winter Olympics venue.

Source: Bjarke Ingels Group