From Trash To Power
A behind the scenes look into the Solid Waste Authority in  Palm Beach County. Follow the process as the award-winning recycling and waste disposal facility turns waste into energy.
The Solid Waste Authority in West Palm Beach is home to two waste-to-energy facilities. About 400 employees receive trash from Palm Beach County and combust it to turn it into electricity. According to the SWA, enough electricity is produced to power most of the eight buildings on the 1,300-acre footprint and about 90,000 homes per year.
The first step starts at the Recovered Materials Processing Facility. Workers sort through waste to see which containers and fibers don't belong and make sure they don’t get mixed up.
The cooling steam from the pipes provides energy to pumps throughout the facility. This system supports the conversion of waste into energy by powering machinery that transports steam, a byproduct of burning waste to generate electricity and reduce landfill use.
The Solid Waste Authority in West Palm Beach is home to two waste-to-energy facilities. About 400 employees receive trash from Palm Beach County and combust it to turn it into electricity. According to the SWA, enough electricity is produced to power most of the eight buildings on the 1,300-acre footprint and about 90,000 homes per year.