Covanta Energy and the L2L Initiative

Miami-Dade Coastal Cleanup is pleased to announce that we are partnering with Covanta Energy for the event on September 25th, 2010.  Covanta will provide free disposal of the debris collected during the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) through their newLitter to Light (L2L) initiative.  In addition to this in-kind sponsorship, they have pledged $2,500 to the event in Miami-Dade County.

How Litter to Light Works
Covanta Energy encourages you to recycle all the materials you can, but when the litter you collect is not suitable for recycling, the L2L program will give the material a second life by converting it into clean, renewable energy through Covanta’s energy-from-waste (EfW) technology.  Through this state-of-the-art process, the litter will be combusted at high temperatures, converting it to steam, which turns a turbine, and generates renewable electricity which is transferred to the local power grid. 

What are the Benefits
The electricity generated at modern EfW facilities helps many communities meet their renewable energy goals. Each ton of litter processed at one of Covanta’s EfW facilities produces enough electricity to power a typical home for over two weeks. In addition, EfW helps reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) by reducing the amount of waste sent to methane generating landfills. Energy-from-Waste also recovers metals for recycling, reduces the need to burn fossil fuels, and the need to haul waste for long distances. Every ton of waste sent to EfW facilities reduces one ton of GHG when compared to landfills.

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