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Solid Waste Processing and Recycling Services RFI/RFP Process Feasibility S 015 i Page 2 of t storage of household hazardous waste, and waste tire management. This contract is due to expire on December 31, 2017; therefore, this is an ideal time to explore the interest of private sector vendors in developing a processing system designed to divert a high percentage of waste from disposal (e.g., 50% more). The waste composition study conducted as part of the Master Plan project revealed that approximately 38%of residential and commercial solid waste disposed consists of potentially recyclable material, and an additional 32%consists of organic materials that could potentially be processed. The Master Plan outlined a three-phase approach to assist the County in charting a pathway toward achieving the State's 75% recycling goal. Phase 1 includes an RFI/RFP process to explore the viability of processing technologies that achieve high material recovery rates. Phases 2 and 3 are driven by the results of the RFI/PRP process, which will determine whether an economically viable mixed waste processing technology is available. Technologies and Vendors In an effort to achieve higher recycling goals, alternative processing technologies have gained attention in recent years. Such technologies fall into three general categories: mechanical, biological/chemical, and thermal. Development of these technologies varies, but numerous companies operate demonstration or commercial facilities. In most cases, biological/chemical and thermal technologies require segregated materials or some degree of pre-processing prior to core technology. Numerous mixed waste processing facilities operate on a commercial-scale in the U.S. Unlike a traditional material recovery facility (MRF) at which source separated recyclables are processed, a mixed waste MRF recovers recyclables from the mixed municipal waste stream. Some state-of-the- art mixed waste MRFs report diverting up to 75%of the waste stream from disposal. Mixed waste MRFs can process the entire waste stream or just a portion of it, such as multi-family and commercial waste. They often complement existing recycling programs rather than replace them. In fact, MRFs that process mixed waste often include processing lines for single stream recyclables. Different technologies can be integrated into a single facility. For example, some facilities recover recyclable commodities, as well as organics for further processing through composting or anaerobic digestions (AD). In May 2014, KCI coordinated and facilitated a site visit for Vincent Burke and Himanshu Mehta to a state-of-the-art mixed waste processing facility in Montgomery, AL operated by Infinitus Energy. County and KCI staff toured the facility and met with Kyle Mowitz, CEO of Infinitus Energy, to discuss planning,financing, construction, startup, and performance testing of the facility. The facility, which is capable of processing 150,000-200,000 tons per year, cost approximately$35 million for the site, building, and equipment, and was constructed in about 18 months. According to Mr. Mowitz, the facility is diverting between 50%and 60% of incoming waste for recycling and beneficial reuse and is targeting more than 70%diversion once Phase 2 of the project (anaerobic digestion facility) is completed. Issues have been raised regarding the quality of recovered materials from a mixed waste MRF, but Mr. Mowitz stated that marketing materials from the Montgomery facility has not been a problem. A future Phase 3 process would work to convert residuals to an engineered fuel, but that is still early in the design stage. kessler consulting inc. innovative waste solutions 266