Our solution
By
Ray Ratliff
Executive Summary
Ford Mountain landfill in Pike County, Kentucky, is nearing capacity, receiving over 140 tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) daily and projected to handle up to 65,000 tons annually under a 2026 contract. Historically, this has required multi-million dollar expansions and offered limited job creation. A transformative opportunity exists: convert the landfill into a waste-to-energy and materials recovery facility that generates electricity, recovers valuable materials, creates jobs, and turns a public liability into a county-wide asset.
The Challenge
Daily Volume: Over 140 tons/day
Annual Volume: 60,000–65,000 tons/year
Expansion Costs: Multi-million dollar investments required to maintain landfill capacity
Limited Employment: 10–15 jobs in current landfill operations
The Opportunity: Waste-to-Energy & Recovery Facility
A modern facility could:
Process 65,000 tons/year of MSW
Generate 6.5M–9.75M kWh/year of electricity via steam turbine
Recover metals, glass, and pot ash for resale
Create 50–80 jobs across skill levels
Avoid future landfill expansions, saving millions in public funds
Economic Impact
Annual Profit Potential
Revenue Stream
Estimated Annual Revenue
Electricity
$520K–$1.17M
Metals
$195K–$780K
Glass
$58K–$195K
Pot Ash
$195K–$487K
Tipping Fees (optional)
$2.6M–$3.9M
Total Annual Revenue: $4.5M–$11.5MNet Profit After Costs: $400K–$8.7M/year
10-Year Financial Model
Year
Construction / Operating Costs
Revenues
Net Profit
1–3
CapEx: $180M–$520M
$0
($180M–$520M)
4–10
OpEx: $2.3M–$4.1M/year
$4.5M–$11.5M/year
$400K–$8.7M/year
Cumulative Net Profit (Years 4–10): $2.8M–$47.7MBreak-even: Year 7–8 with low-end investment
Workforce Impact
Category
Current Landfill
Waste-to-Energy Facility
Core Staff
8–12
25–40
Materials Recovery
Minimal
10–20
Energy Ops
None
5–10
Glass/Metal/Pot Ash
None
5–10
Admin & Outreach
2–3
5–8
Total Jobs: 10–15 → 50–80
Strategic Benefits
Environmental: Reduces landfill volume, mitigates dioxin risk, reclaims Ford Mountain
Economic: Generates profit, avoids expansion costs, attracts investment
Social: Creates diverse jobs, supports local workforce, improves public perception
Infrastructure: Aligns with rail expansion and circular economy goals
Conclusion
Pike County can lead Appalachia in clean-tech innovation. By transforming Ford Mountain from a landfill into a waste-to-wealth engine, the county secures long-term economic resilience, environmental stewardship, and community empowerment.
Let’s turn the landfill into a launchpad.
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