Background of the WASTEC Facility

In December 1981, a bond referendum was approved by the New Hanover County citizens by an overwhelming 13 to 1 ratio for the construction of the $13.1 million "Refuse Fired Steam Generation Facility". A contract was awarded to Clark Kenith, Inc., of Atlanta, GA, for plant design and construction in November 1982. Start-up and testing of the facility began in June 1984, with the County assuming operation of the plant in August 1984.

A dedication ceremony was held September 27, 1984, to celebrate the construction and initial operation of the 200 ton-per-day plant. The "Steam Plant" was listed as the first waste-to-energy facility in North Carolina, and one of the first small plants in the nation to generate both steam and electricity (or cogeneration).

As a means of addressing the solid waste demands generated by a growing community, a referendum held in 1988 was passed by a 4 to 1 margin that approved a $27 million bond for expanding the facility. Construction was completed in 1990 on the installation of a 250 ton-per-day boiler, upgrades to the electrical generation equipment and air pollution controls, and installation of computerized systems control.

The original two boilers, each with capacities of 100 tons per day and still in service today, were designed and manufactured by the Keeler/Dorr-Oliver Company. The 300 tpd boiler installed in 1990 was designed, manufactured and installed by Volund, USA, Ltd., subsidiary of the Belgian firm internationally known for waste-to-energy plant construction.