Notice: The Waste to Energy Facility at 2900 S. Geiger Blvd. now accepts fire-damaged materials that are recognizable and free of ash if accompanied by an asbestos survey. See Fire Damage Debris Disposal flyer for requirements and information. (PDF 165 KB)
Waste to Energy Facility Recycling & Disposal Hours 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
All facilities are closed on the following holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas.
Spokane's Waste to Energy (WTE) Facility is part of our community's overall comprehensive solid waste system - encouraging recycling and waste reduction in addition to energy recovery. The facility burns municipal solid waste to recover energy in the form of electricity and handles 800 tons of municipal solid waste a day. The facility generates approximately 22 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 13,000 homes, and earns up to $5 million in power sales annually.
This process reduces the volume of solid waste by 90% - 70% by weight. The resulting ash is biologically inert and sent to a regional landfill to be used as alternative daily cover.
The plant is operated by the City of Spokane's Solid Waste Disposal Department and regulated by Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency, the Washington State Department of Ecology, and the Spokane Regional Health District. The Waste to Energy Facility began operation in late 1991, as part of an overall solution to handle the community's solid waste, replacing non-compliant, leaking landfills.
Our community selected waste to energy over landfilling due to its waste reduction capacity and due to Spokane's proximity to the region's sole-source aquifer. The State of Washington joined in this effort with a $60 million investment, recognizing our facility as a preferred alternative to aging landfills.
Touring the City’s Waste to Energy Facility is a popular activity for school groups and the general public. We love showing off how we turn trash into energy and you can learn in person or virtually!
Tours of the Waste to Energy Facility are available to groups of 10 or more on a limited basis. For more information, please contact solidwaste@spokanecity.org or complete the online reservation form.
Thanks to the help of KSPS and their GoPro360 camera, you can follow along virtually with a tour guide on a walk through the facility, and at each stop, you can look all around as you hear how things work. It is the next best thing to being there – maybe even better as you take the tour in the warmth and comfort of your home.
For additional ways to learn about our solid waste system and generating less trash, visit our Education page or contact the City of Spokane’s Solid Waste Disposal Department at 509.625.6580.
Waste to Energy Facility Recycling & Disposal Hours 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tours of the Waste to Energy Facility are available to groups of 10 or more on a limited basis. For more information, please contact solidwaste@spokanecity.org or complete the reservation form below.
Exploring Spokane: Turning Waste to Energy is a children's book that explains how Spokane disposes of its trash in the only waste to energy facility in the state. The book is available free of charge. Request your own copy today!
The City of Spokane's Waste to Energy Facility has been the main solid waste disposal option for Spokane County since 1991. In its 30 years of operation, there have been myths and misinformation directed at this type of technology. A new study recently released by The City College of New York addresses those misconceptions. The report confirms that Waste to Energy plays a key role in the reduction of greenhouse gases and complements recycling efforts. The report is the first of its kind to comprehensively review decades of studies on this industry. View the vetted and peer-reviewed report.
