Green Works Government

Recycling in OrlandoSustainable Infrastructure

Reclaimed Water - In 2011, Orlando reached 95% reuse of its waste water, most likely the highest rate in the entire county.

Recycling - 38% of garbage collected in Orlando was recycled in the past year. In total, 150,098 tons were recycled, an overall tonnage decrease due to the economic slowdown.

Sustainable Materials Facility - By 2014, Orlando will possess what is potentially the most innovative waste water plant in the world. Orlando intends to showcase economically-viable and environmentally-friendly methods to process waste – both to reduce its footprint and cost, and to demonstrate these technologies to other municipal leaders. Specifically, the plant will possess the following:

• Reclaimed water processing (complete)
 
• Super Critical Sludge Oxidation Plant – This process converts waste water sludge into clean water, electricity, and hot water for 6,000 homes. The pilot unit came online in Summer 2011.
 
• Anaerobic Digestion – Prior to super critical, methane will be extracted from the sludge to generate electricy. The City hopes to begin construction on the energy recovery in 2013.
 
• Ethanol Production – The City is also exploring the harvesting of cattails grown at another waste water facility to create ethanol. Currently the cattails must be burned two times per year.
 
• Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Gasification – one of the first MSW gasification plants in the U.S. The plant will collect recyclables and then gasify the remaining material into synthesis gases that will be used for electricity generation or transportation fuels (RFP will tentatively be issued in October 2013)
 
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Solar Power – the City is also studying several solar installations. The first will occur on the City’s Fleet garage and have at least 400 kilowatts of installed capacity (enough to power 45 single-family houses).