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Board approves 10-year waste-to-energy contract with Reworld Indianapolis amid air-quality and equity questions

2089613 · January 8, 2025
AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

The Board of Public Works approved a new services agreement with Reworld Indianapolis Inc. (formerly Covanta) to serve as the city's primary solid-waste disposal facility through Dec. 31, 2035. Board members and staff discussed air-quality, environmental justice and procurement timing; at least one member announced a no vote.

The Indianapolis Board of Public Works on Jan. 8 approved a services agreement with Reworld Indianapolis Inc. (formerly Covanta Indianapolis Inc.) to provide solid-waste disposal at a waste-to-energy facility beginning Dec. 17, 2025, with an agreement expiration date of Dec. 31, 2035.

DPW staff presented the agreement as the product of a competitive procurement (RFP 14 DPW 1614) and said there is no “not-to-exceed” contract amount because tonnage volumes cannot be predicted. A staff representative said Reworld will serve as the city’s primary disposal facility; waste items ineligible to be burned at that facility will go to the city’s secondary disposal site, the Southside Landfill.

The board’s discussion focused on environmental and equity concerns. A board member, Dan Hake, raised questions about public-health impacts in disproportionately impacted neighborhoods and recalled earlier council debates about whether waste-to-energy should be the city’s long-term approach.…

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