Waste Management Expanding Iowa Waste-to-Energy Plant

Waste Management Inc. is expanding its waste-to-energy facility in Des Moines, Iowa.

The expansion will increase the plant’s energy capacity to 11.2 megawatts from the current 6.4, according to a news release. It will advance the number of homes powered to 11,200 from 6,400.

The Des Moines Metro Methane Recovery Facility at the Metro Park East landfill in Polk County is a partnership between the Des Moines Metro Waste Authority and Waste Management of Des Moines, a unit of Houston-based Waste Management. Waste Management operates the gas plant and Metro Waste Authority owns and operates the landfill.

The electricity produced by the expanded operation will go to the Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska (MEAN), through a contract secured by Metro Waste Authority. 

The expansion will add three more engines that will convert the gas into energy, with room for a fourth in the future.