The City of Spokane is committed to maintaining high air quality standards when operating the Waste to Energy Facility. Emissions are monitored and regulated by the US Environmental Protection Agency, Spokane Clean Air Agency, the Washington State Department of Ecology, and the Spokane Regional Health District.
These regulatory agencies require continuous emission monitoring, monthly reporting, and annual stack testing.
Emissions from Waste to Energy (WTE) are well within the limits defined by our operating permits and also within federal standards for new facilities. For most regulated emissions, the actual emissions from WTE are less than 10 percent of the emissions allowed under our air permit.
| Parameter |
Actual Emissions
% of Current Permit Limit |
Actual Emissions
% of New Standards |
|---|---|---|
| Particulate | 6% | 7% |
| Opacity | 12% | 12% |
| Sulfur Dioxide | 8% | 8% |
| Hydrogen Chloride | 9% | 10% |
| Carbon Monoxide | 15% | 15% |
| Nitrogen Oxides | 83% | 91% |
| Dioxins/Furans (total) | 5% | 11% |
| Cadmium | 0% | 1% |
| Lead | 0% | 1% |
| Mercury | 2% | 2% |
The City has a long history of making voluntary upgrades to our WTE Facility to reduce or improve emissions or increase functions, and we are committed to continuing that work.
See the most recent stack test results (PDF 593 KB).
Information on the Facility's Air Operating Permit is available on the Spokane Clean Air Agency's site.
