Covanta completes installation of nitrogen oxide reduction technology at Fairfax, Virginia, facility

Covanta, a sustainable materials management and environmental solutions company based in Morristown, New Jersey, announced its Covanta Fairfax waste-to-energy facility recently completed planned enhancements to its pollution control technology. The goal is to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions.  

Located in Fairfax, Virginia, the facility serves about 1,200,000 residents and businesses in Fairfax County by taking nonhazardous household waste otherwise destined for landfill, combusting it at high temperatures and generating steam for renewable electricity production. While more than 99.98 percent of what comes out of the stack is what is typically found in air, Covanta says it works to ensure the elements remain well below federal and state allowable limits.  

According to a news release from Covanta, with the installation of its proprietary Low NOx technology now complete, nitrogen oxide emissions have been reduced by nearly 50 percent. The effort was part of a multiyear project at Covanta Fairfax.  

“Covanta is committed every day to manage our services and facilities in a way that prioritizes our communities, our local businesses and our planet,” says Don Cammarata, area asset manager at Covanta Fairfax. “The completion of the Low NOx technology installation at Covanta Fairfax is just the latest stride in our ongoing commitment to reduce our environmental impact and improve air quality in the communities in which we operate and call home.”  

The company says Low NOx technology is unique within the industry and demonstrates Covanta’s dedication to investment in research and development to provide superior environmental performance. 

“We are pleased with Covanta’s efforts to improve the emissions from the facility while simultaneously managing the waste our residents and businesses generate each year,” says Eric Forbes, of Fairfax County’s Department of Public Works.  

Covanta says its Fairfax facility reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 1,208,000 tons of carbon dioxide, similar in impact to taking 236,000 passenger vehicles off the road for one year. The facility produces 80 megawatts of renewable electricity, which is enough to power 67,000 homes for a year.