With infrastructure improvements topping the list of priorities for the next few years, the City of Tampa is excited to announce the completion of a $100 million retrofit of its McKay Bay Waste to Energy Facility.
Originally established in 1985, it is a cornerstone of Tampa's Solid Waste and Environmental Program Management Department. The facility converts over two million pounds of waste daily into electrical energy, powering approximately 15,000 homes monthly. Beyond electricity generation, the facility prioritizes sustainability by recovering metals from processed ash and employing a multi-step pollution control system for gases.
The $100 million investment ensures compliance with industry standards, securing the facility's functionality for future generations and enhancing its waste-to-energy capabilities. Additionally, facility buildings, technology, and machinery have been modernized. Waste-to-energy facilities are typically designed with a 20 to 30-year estimated operating life. Upgrading the city's current facility will help to extend the life span of the McKay Bay Waste to Energy Facility as the city continues to grow.
"Investing in McKay Bay's Waste to Energy Facility is a strategic commitment to the health, safety, and future prosperity of the City of Tampa," said Mayor Jane Castor. "The facility's daily conversion of household and commercial waste into renewable electrical energy underscores its crucial role in sustainable waste management, making this investment more critical than ever to ensure this operation reaches its full potential, especially as our city grows."
The City of Tampa assumed direct operation of the McKay Bay Waste to Energy Facility on June 1, 2020, becoming the second city in the nation to do so. This transition has led to the hiring of over 55 employees, bringing workforce opportunities and valuable expertise to the team.
For more information on the McKay Bay Waste to Energy Capital Improvement Project, please visit www.tampagov.net/mckaybay.