Energy-from-Waste Facility

Covanta Montgomery, Inc.
Dickerson, Maryland

The Montgomery County Resource Recovery Facility (RRF), operating as Covanta Montgomery, Inc., began commercial operation in August 1995. The facility processes up to 1,800 tons-per-day of solid waste, generating up to 52 megawatts (net) of renewable energy, enough power for 50,000 homes. All waste is first delivered to the Shady Grove Transfer Station in Derwood, MD, compacted into intermodal steel waste containers and then loaded onto railcars for delivery to the facility. This unique rail system allows the county to virtually eliminate truck traffic on the rural roads leading to the RRF.

Technical Data

Facility Address: 

21204 Martinsburg Road
Dickerson, MD 20842
(301) 916-3031

Site: 

34.9 acres in Dickerson, MD

Commercial Operation: 

August 7, 1995

Energy-from-Waste System: 

Three 600 ton-per-day waterwall furnaces with Martin® reverse-reciprocating grates and ash handling system

Boiler Design: 

865 pounds per square inch gauge/830°F superheater outlet conditions

Air Pollution Control Equipment: 

Semi-dry flue gas scrubbers injecting lime, fabric filter baghouses, furnace dry lime injection, Low-NOxTM and SNCR nitrogen oxide control systems, mercury control system, and continuous emissions monitoring (CEM) system tied into the County’s website

Rated Refuse Capacity: 

1,800 tons per day

Energy Generation at Rated Capacity: 

up to 63 megawatts from one condensing steam turbine generator

Sold into:

PJM (Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland) Regional Transmission System through bulk power marketers