Report: Fuel Pellet Plant In Huron Not Feasible

A feasibility study on Huron starting a Processed Engineered Fuel or “PEF” plant was presented before Huron City Commissioners Monday PEF is a fuel created by making pellets or a “fluff” out of solid waste that can not be recycled. The Study was presented by R-W Beck Group’s Fred Doran who showed a bar graph to the Commission….

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A PEF scenario would cost Huron residents up to 17 dollars per household a month. Huron’s current system of hauling solid waste to Pierre costs 5 dollars 25 cents per household a month. Doran says the outlook for Huron did have some bright spots…

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Mayor Dave McGirr and other city staff included Solid Waste Superintendent Dale Fortin have been working on the idea of a PEF plant in Huron for a number of years now. The disappointment in the numbers Doran gave the Commission was shown on McGirr’s face…

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Commercial garbage hauler Waste Management has shown no interest in sending it’s solid waste locally. It hauls to a corporate landfill in North Dakota. No existing Solid Waste programs in Eastern South Dakota showed an interest in partnering with Huron on the effort as most have their own municipal landfills. Mary Chamberlain of the Beck Company gave options on possible recycling programs as a part of the presentation.