Clean Harbors (Norwell, Mass.; www.cleanharbors.com) and CDM Smith (Boston, Mass.; www.cdmsmith.com) are constructing a new thermal treatment plant at Clean Harbors’ existing facility in El Dorado, Arkansas—the first new commercial incinerator of its kind built in the United States in more than 20 years. This state-of-the-art hazardous waste incinerator will enhance the nation’s environmental protection infrastructure by adding capacity in a critical area—facilities capable of safely and permanently destroying a variety of potentially dangerous waste streams.
Begun in 2013, the massive project has an expected completion cost of more than $100 million and will add more than 65,000 tons of expected annual capacity to Clean Harbors’ network. CDM Smith is providing planning, design and construction services for installing the new state-of-the-art industrial thermal treatment unit and associated air pollution control systems. The facility expansion will enable Clean Harbors to better meet growing customer needs, address the demand for destruction of extremely high hazard waste streams and deliver economic benefits to the community through 120 well-paying new jobs, as well as the 130 contractors who have temporarily relocated to El Dorado to support construction.
Clean Harbors contracted CDM Smith for the design of the major portion of the facility’s expansion. A progressive design-build approach was chosen in mid-2014 and CDM Smith was further awarded construction for the majority of the project’s total budget. The collaborative design-build approach allowed valuable owner input into the design and accommodations to a tight schedule.
Work is currently in the final stages of construction. As of today, the project is more than two-thirds complete with essentially all major treatment and air pollution control equipment components installed.
Clean Harbors is a leading provider of environmental, energy and industrial services, including waste treatment and disposal. Its El Dorado facility, which has been operating for nearly 40 years, specializes in thermally treating hazardous solids, liquids, and sludge.
The El Dorado facility is one of four thermal treatment plants Clean Harbors operates in the United States— serving a wide variety of customers in various industries, research and development groups, academic institutions and government agencies. In addition to a full range of site remediation, disposal and treatment services, Clean Harbors owns Safety-Kleen which provides solvent and waste oil services and operates three major lube oil re-refineries in the United State and Canada.
CDM Smith provides lasting and integrated solutions in water, environment, transportation, energy and facilities to public and private clients worldwide. As a full-service engineering and construction firm, we deliver exceptional client service, quality results and enduring value across the entire project life cycle.