South Kent News

The Kent County Department of Public Works announced its Request for Proposals (RFP) for a notable tenant for the upcoming Sustainable Business Park, The Right Place website reported. 

The park will span 250 acres near Byron Center’s South Kent Landfill. A plan for the sustainable park was greenlighted nearly two year ago with the hope of removing much of the 2.1 million cubic yards of waste.

Kent County Board of Public Works Chair Emily Brieve said, according to The Right Place, “We are seeing a company that has demonstrated they can handle this volume of waste and be part of a public-private partnership with the Kent County Department of Public Works to assist in our goal of diverting 90% of trash from the South Kent Landfill by 2030.”

She added that the RFP has been submitted and that they expect to hear back from several international companies that can help with the major trash backup. 

“Landfills are not the legacy I want to leave for my children,” Brieve told The Right Place.

If all goes well, the RFP will help point out companies that have already shown they can use technology to process waste that’s being distributed to West Michigan landfills. The ideal company will also have a history of separating certain materials from the waste, like plastic and wood, which can be transformed into something new or feedstock like building products and engineered fuel.

This process could help boost the economy and create jobs, according to The Right Place.

For now, the Kent County Department of Public Works issued an estimate of $17.5 million for the project and also pointed out potential funding on the federal level for certain portions like utilities and roads.

Interested companies have until Sept. 9, 2020, to answer the RFP. Any questions should be emailed by July 22, 2020, at 5 p.m.