Kristine Major, Solid Waste Educator, 509.625.6521
Monday, February 11, 2019 at 2:09 p.m.
You haul your trash can to the curb every week. At work, the garbage you toss in the bin is gone the next day. Out of sight, out of mind, right? That stuff doesn’t just magically disappear. It is handled, trucked and disposed of by your city’s solid waste workers. If you have ever wondered what happens to that garbage after you toss it, now is your chance!
The City of Spokane Solid Waste Disposal Department is offering free public tours at the Waste to Energy Facility, 2900 S. Geiger Blvd., on Presidents’ Day, Monday, Feb. 18. Tour times are at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. They are free and last approximately one hour.
Visitors will not only see the tipping floor where trash is dumped for the “claw” to pick up, but will go inside to see where it is burned at temperatures reaching 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. That heat is then harnessed to make steam which is used to generate enough electricity to power 13,000 homes. Spokane’s is the only Waste to Energy facility in Washington State and only one of two in the entire Pacific Northwest. And, how cool is this, you could go through it!
Visitors must wear close-toed shoes and dress for the weather as there is some walking outdoors. The tour is appropriate for ages 10 and above. Space is limited, so reservations are recommended. For more information and to reserve a spot, call 625-6580 or email Solidwaste@spokanecity.org.
To learn more about the Waste to Energy facility, visit the City’s website.
