TRENDS Winter 2022 | Page 31

visitors , landscaping , new signage , site drainage , utilities , infrastructure , campus power system , IT and security system , and new campus heating distribution system utilizing waste heat for energy recovery . With these additions , Pope Douglas could expand services provided and create a more comfortable and convenient experience for customers .
In addition to increasing the facility ’ s productivity and services , it was important to Ayres and Pope Douglas to focus on environmentally conscious and sustainable design . Therefore , the entire project was designed to the sustainable buildings 2030 guidelines through the state of Minnesota . With the use of recovered waste heat , no natural gas energy is used to heat any of the buildings on site . Much of the electricity used on site is also generated by the waste to energy process in Pope Douglas ’ s waste to energy building .
Construction on the new project isn ’ t expected until near the end of the decade , but Ayres is excited to embark on another major improvement to Manitowoc ’ s streets .
PLANS PROGRESSING ON WASTE-TO-ENERGY FACILITY EXPANSION
Pope Douglas Solid Waste Management Facility has been serving the communities of Pope and Douglas counties by processing residential and commercial waste since its opening in 1988 . In its first year of operation , Pope Douglas processed 17,202 tons of wastes , and , after 20 years , that number increased to over 476,000 tons . Not only does Pope Douglas offer a wide variety of waste recyclable and disposable services , but it also provides many educational and outreach events teaching how waste is managed in the local area . As state and local requirement needs continued to change , Pope Douglas continues to evolve its facility by adding modifications and additions to increasing its processing capacity and efficiency .
In 2021 , the Minnesota State legislature passed the bonding bill that included $ 20 million in state bond funds which allowed for expansion and addition to the Pope Douglas facility . JRMA Architects teamed with Ayres to provide the mechanical , electrical , and plumbing engineering services for this project . The project included a new truck scale , scale house , environmental center , household hazardous waste sorting and storage , a new expansion of the existing materials recovery facility ( MRF ), new paved entrance for trucks and
As of October 2022 , the project is in the third design phase on the MRF expansion while construction has already begun in the first design phase of the truck scale and scale house . Completion of construction for this project has been proposed to close in April of 2024 . www . AyresAssociates . com 31