Covanta announced that the Covanta Fairfax Waste-to-Energy facility recently completed planned enhancements to its pollution control technology aimed at further reducing nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, thereby helping to further protect the environment. Located in Fairfax, Va., the Waste-to-Energy facility serves approximately 1,200,000 residents and businesses in Fairfax County by taking non-hazardous household waste otherwise destined for landfill, combusting it at high temperatures and generating steam for renewable electricity production. While more than 99.98% of what comes out of the stack is what is typically found in air – water vapor, oxygen, carbon dioxide – Covanta works tirelessly to ensure the other elements remain well below federal and state allowable limits.

With installation of its proprietary Low NOx (LN) technology now complete, nitrogen oxide emissions have been reduced by nearly 50 %. The effort was part of a multi-year project at Covanta Fairfax. The Low NOx technology is unique within the industry and demonstrates Covanta's dedication to investment in research and development to provide superior environmental performance.

Through its mission of keeping waste out of landfills, Covanta Fairfax reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 1,208,000 tons of carbon dioxide, similar in impact to taking 236,000 passenger vehicles off the road for one year. The facility produces 80 megawatts of renewable electricity 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; enough to power 67,000 homes for a year.