WESTBURY, N.Y., Sept. 18, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Covanta Hempstead,
Long Island's largest
Energy-from-Waste facility, is celebrating 30 years of service to
the community. Opened in 1989, the facility is a vital outlet for
sustainably managing the waste generated by residents of the
Town of Hempstead and other
neighboring municipalities.
Watch a video of the anniversary celebration here:
https://youtu.be/FyNQI_ULuH8
"When it comes to the environment and building a more
sustainable future, we at Covanta are deeply committed to
protecting tomorrow," said Derek
Veenhof, Covanta's executive vice president, Asset
Management. "As our partner for the last three decades, the
Town of Hempstead shares this
commitment, choosing to recover value from their waste to the
benefit of its residents. Energy-from-Waste was the right decision,
at the right time, and as New York
moves forward to a zero-carbon economy, this facility will continue
to play a vital role in achieving that goal."
"The Covanta Hempstead Energy-from-Waste facility is the
cornerstone of the Town of
Hempstead's integrated waste management system," said Town
Supervisor Laura Gillen. "The
facility provides a reliable and sustainable means of managing our
waste, reduces greenhouse gases by avoiding landfills and generates
clean energy for our community. We also greatly appreciate
Covanta's commitment to the community. Whether it is educating
students on environmental stewardship or helping our veterans,
Covanta has demonstrated that they are dedicated to being a good
neighbor and improving the community any way they can."
"The public-private partnership that Covanta and the
Town of Hempstead have built is an
important example of the innovative solutions New York State will need as we meet the urgent
challenge of climate change," said New
York State Senator Todd Kaminsky.
"As Long Island's largest Energy-from-Waste facility, Covanta
Hempstead truly lives up to its mission of ensuring no waste is
ever wasted," said New York State
Senator Kevin Thomas. "They have also shown important leadership on
the proper disposal of prescription drugs, which helps to prevent
drug abuse and protects our water supplies."
Located on just 15 acres in Westbury,
New York, Covanta Hempstead processes over 1 million tons of
waste each year and generates enough electricity to power 75,000
local homes and businesses. The facility also recycles more than
30,000 tons of metal annually.
Since its inception, Covanta Hempstead has:
- Processed more than 28 million tons of waste, saving over 200
acres of land that would have been used for landfilling
- Generated 15 million megawatt hours of electricity, enough to
power more than 1.5 million homes for one year
- Reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 18 million of tons,
equivalent to taking nearly 3.5 million cars off the road for one
year
- Avoided 2.8 million trucks going off-island to distant
landfills – equal to a 5-lane highway filled bumper-to-bumper with
garbage trucks from Hempstead to
the Oregon coast
- Recovered approximately 625,000 tons of ferrous metal for
recycling, enough to build 23 Whitestone Bridges
An active member of the community, Covanta Hempstead supports a
range of initiatives such as Wreaths Across America and encouraging
STEM education for local students. Recently, the facility launched
an American Flag retirement program in collaboration with local
veteran groups. The program retires old and worn flags in
accordance with the U.S. flag code.
The facility has also been recognized for its safety and
environmental excellence. It was the first in the Energy-from-Waste
industry to receive the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health
Administration's (OSHA) Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Star
award. Acceptance into the VPP Star program signifies OSHA's
official recognition of the outstanding efforts of employers and
employees who have achieved exemplary occupational safety and
health performance.
About Covanta
Covanta (NYSE: CVA) is a world leader in providing
sustainable waste and energy solutions. Annually, Covanta's modern
Energy-from-Waste ("EfW") facilities safely convert approximately
21 million tons of waste from municipalities and businesses into
clean, renewable electricity to power one million homes and recycle
over 600,000 tons of metal. Through a vast network of treatment and
recycling facilities, Covanta also provides comprehensive
industrial material management services to companies seeking
solutions to some of today's most complex environmental challenges.
For more information, visit www.covanta.com.
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SOURCE Covanta