Clean Earth, a division of Enviri Corporation and Veolia North America have executed a long-term collaborative agreement for significant incineration capacity at the new state-of-the-art thermal facility in Southwest Arkansas. The five-year agreement, structured to provide guaranteed access for Clean Earth by Veolia, is a first-of-its-kind in the industry and a positive advancement for the waste management industry and customers as the new facility, opening in 2025, will provide much-needed additional capacity.
Fred Van Heems, Veolia North America’s president and chief executive officer, said, “Demand is growing across the U.S. for the safe, sustainable management of complex waste streams from the resurgent growth of research and manufacturing in North America. In addition, the facility will provide needed capacity to support contaminants of emerging concern. This agreement provides a solution for the gap in the industry. We have a long-standing relationship with Clean Earth, and we are pleased to work together to solve some of the country’s most difficult environmental challenges at our new facility.”
Veolia’s new facility will be powered by local decarbonizing energy generated directly on-site, North America’s first for a hazardous waste plant. The power will be supplied by capturing waste heat recovered from a boiler and steam turbine and generating five megawatts of on-site solar power per hour, creating a more sustainable option for the marketplace and benefiting consumers and the public. A plan to reforest nearly 1,500 acres surrounding the property will sequester carbon emissions, provide protection for local habitat, and prevent erosion.
Veolia North America will increase waste treatment access for Clean Earth throughout 2024 to ramp up activities for a smooth transition in 2025.