Waste to Energy Facility

The WTE facility incinerates non-hazardous solid wastes from municipal and commercial operations, generating up to 16 megawatts of electricity.

Prohibited Items (pdf)

Services

  • Facility tours
  • Trash disposal services for curbside collection by licensed Waste Haulers. This facility is open to commercial waste haulers only.
  • Approved Special Burns – Prior authorization and scheduling required. Learn More »

Disposal Fees

Cash or check only.

Waste & Recycling Disposal Fees (pdf)

Kent County Department of Public Works reserves the right to accept or reject any waste at any of our facilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the Waste to Energy Facility only process trash from the six metro cities of Kent County? Why aren't other cities, villages, or townships included?

When the construction of the Waste to Energy facility was approved, the 6 metro cities of Kent County — Grand Rapids, East Grand Rapids, Walker, Wyoming, Kentwood, & Grandville — were bonded in order to fund this waste disposal facility hence why trash collected with those municipal boundaries are mandated to be brought to the Waste to Energy facility for disposal.

About

Kent County’s Waste to Energy Facility is one of four facilities in Kent County’s integrated solid waste management fleet. 2020 marked its 30th year of operation serving Grand Rapids, East Grand Rapids, Walker, Kentwood, Wyoming and Grandville. As of the end of 2019, there have been over five and half million tons of refuse processed in this facility since opening in 1990.

The Kent County Waste to Energy facility is critical to Kent County’s integrated solid waste system:

  • it generates electricity for 11,000 homes, about the number of residences in the City of Walker
  • it’s a baseload energy source diversifying Michigan’s renewable energy portfolio
  • we’ve recovered over 136,000 tons of scrap steel that would have otherwise not been recycled
  • we preserved 10 years of South Kent Landfill airspace, extending the life of the landfill
  • we provide good jobs for 50 employees
  • it generated 96,048 KWh of electricity in 2019

Kent County’s Waste to Energy Facility is recognized by MDEQ as a Clean Corporate Citizen.

Location

950 Market Ave. SW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Mailing Address

Kent County DPW
P.O. Box 2504
Grand Rapids, MI 49501

Phone

(616) 632-7920

Hours of Service:

Monday-Friday: 5:00am-exactly 5:00pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
Holiday Hours

Closing times are exact. Individuals disposing of waste after operating hours may be subject to an After Hours Service Fee