Architectural & Engineering Services for Kent County Michigan MRF & Biogas Plant

Brea, CA (August 24, 2022) JRMA (J. R. Miller & Associates), a leading architectural, engineering, and planning firm specializing in the design of solid waste and recycling transfer stations, materials recovery facilities (MRFs), and anaerobic digestion/biogas plants (AD), is pleased to announce that they will provide front end architectural and engineering services for a $280 million state-of-the-art MRF and Biogas Production Plant in Kent County, Michigan.

Kent County Department of Public Works is building the Sustainable Business Park to help address a goal to divert 90% of the County-generated trash that goes to landfills by 2030. The park will lay the critical infrastructure to support a regional circular economy, leverage private sector development, attract businesses to localize the entire recycling or conversion process, preserve open space, expand research, generate and use renewable energy, and begin to close the loop in West Michigan.

Under the terms of a Project Development Agreement ("PDA") with the Board of the Kent County Department of Public Works, Anaergia Inc. (see https://www.anaergia.com/) and partner Continuus Materials will develop an approximately US$280 million state-of-the-art MRF)and Biogas Production Plant. In addition to recovering materials for recycling or repurposing, the proposed plant will convert non-recyclable solid waste to valuable products including fertilizer, and renewable natural gas (RNG). The completed project will assist the County with achieving its ambitious landfill diversion targets while supporting its visionary sustainability goals and creating economic stimulus in West Michigan.

In addition to conceptual design, JRMA will assist with the preparation of RFP documents for procurement of a design-build team to complete the design and construction. This project will also offer visitor educational resources for the display of its process technologies and the facility’s important role in environmental stewardship. It will be part of a larger master-planned development and Kent County vision for the future that will include industries that will have important synergies with both recycled and new materials.