GDRRA Facility Information
The Greater Detroit Resource Recovery Facility is a refuse-derived fuel (RDF) plant that began commercial operation in October 1991. It operates the facility for the City of Detroit under contract with the Greater Detroit Resource Recovery Authority (GDRRA). The facility is permitted to receive up to 4,000 tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) per day. The MSW is processed into RDF, which is then burned in the furnaces, producing 720,000 pounds of steam per hour. The steam is used to generate up to 68 megawatts of electricity and supply export steam at a rate of up to 550,000 pounds per hour. The energy products are sold to Detroit Edison Corporation.
Recycling Waste Into Energy
The facility utilizes refuse-derived fuel technology. After ferrous metal is removed, the waste is prepared through a series of trommels, conveyers and spreaders. Waste is then combusted in furnaces at temperatures exceeding 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit and reduced to an inert ash residue that is significantly less than its original volume.
Flue gas is directed through state-of-the-art dry flue gas scrubbers with fabric filter baghouses. Facility emissions are strictly regulated by state and federal agencies, as are handling and disposal of combustions ash.
A Community Partnership
Throughout the life of the facility, it will convert millions of tons of non-recycled waste into valuable energy and reduce the volume of waste to be landfilled, thus preserving precious land for more productive uses.
The facility is the key component of the City's integrated waste management system, which also includes waste reduction, recycling and household hazardous wasted disposal programs.
The Greater Detroit Resource Recovery Facility is located on the northeast corner of Russell Street and Ferry Avenue.
For more information or to arrange for a tour, please call 313-876-0449.
Facility Specifications
Rated Refuse Capacity: 3,300 tons per day
Unit Design: Three 1,097 ton-per-day (RDF) waterwall furnaces
Energy Generation at Rated Capacity: Up to 68 MW of electricity and 550,000 lbs. of steam per hour, sold to Detroit Edison Corporation