By Amanda Fry/Platte County Record Times

Members of local town and county governments, as well as other members of the community attended a meeting in Guernsey on Wednesday, Sept. 16, to discuss the possibility of a waste to energy power plant in the area.

American Renewable Energy Associates (AREA) is currently working in conjunction with other groups and businesses to explore the possibility of a waste to energy power plant. The plant would convert solid waste, obtained from municipal sources, as well as other forms of fuel, to generate power.

Stuart Powell, Engineering Services Manager at WLB Group, spoke on the potential project.

“The fact is, [solid waste] is a huge headache everywhere,” he said.

According to Powell, while recycling can recover as much as 30 percent of waste in some areas, on average, most areas in the nation recover less than 10 percent of recyclable matter. He said a waste to energy plant would dispose of the 90 percent of reusable waste that is currently going to landfills, as well as recycle items that could not be burned.

A solid waste plant would also use animal waste from feedlots, dairies and other similar operations, as well as general agricultural waste, such as timber, Powell said.

READ THE COMPLETE ARTICLE HERE.