RePower South to reopen Montgomery, Alabama, MRF

Charleston, South Carolina-based RePower South (RPS) has reached an agreement with the city of Montgomery, Alabama, to reopen the city’s material recovery facility (MRF), which was idled in October 2015 after spending about 19 months operating as a mixed waste processing facility. The city of Montgomery purchased the facility in late 2017 and has been seeking to reopen it since.

RPS will add what it calls “a proprietary fuel manufacturing capability with new additions and features” at the plant in a bid to “position Montgomery as a national leader in community and environmental sustainability.”

The company indicates in a press release that it will invest some $7 million into the newly named city of Montgomery Recycling and Recovery Facility and will hire some 60 people. The facility is slated to begin operating in late 2018.

“We call our city the Capital of Dreams, and today is yet another milestone fulfilling that promise,” says Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange. “Our agreement with RePower South will again enable Montgomery residents to actively participate in enhancing the sustainable practices of our city, reducing the amount of trash that goes into our landfills while simultaneously enhancing economic development and job creation.”

RPS Corporate Development Director Scott Montgomery says the facility will feature system upgrades designed in part to produce what he calls a low-carbon, clean fuel from traditionally landfilled waste. “Our platform enables greater recycling recovery across the entire waste stream and creates a low-carbon, clean fuel to help reduce the consumption of coal, resulting in greater recycling, less landfilling and cleaner air at lower cost.”

Montgomery adds, “We are grateful for the leadership and support of Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange, the city’s executive staff, and the City of Montgomery Sanitation Department for selecting RePower South to deliver this cost-effective solution. We know there’s a better way for our nation to manage garbage, and we are excited that the City of Montgomery agrees. We believe this facility will serve as a model for the world to move toward a more sustainable waste and energy future.”

RPS development partners include North Carolina-based Barnhill Contracting Co. as general contractor; Eugene, Oregon-based Bulk Handling Systems (BHS) to refurbish and upgrade the materials processing system; and Germany-based Loesche Energy Systems to provide the fuel manufacturing system. RPS is licensing the fuel technology from Vermont-based Accordant Energy.