April 9, 2024: Earthcare’s biosolids and poultry manure processing facility in Bethel, PA, has completed construction and is entering the start-up and commissioning phase of plant operations. The two-module facility consists of separate gasifier trains that will have the capacity to process 87,600 wet tons of biosolids per year in addition to egg layer feedstocks provided by local agricultural resources.
“Despite unconscionable delays with the utility, we are pleased to finally have full electrical service to the facility and are able to move forward with the start-up and commissioning of both gasifier modules. Initial production runs of EcoCharTM have yielded expected results and we are excited to begin full-scale operations in the coming weeks,” said Mike McGolden, Earthcare President & CEO. The facility is the first of its kind in terms of capacity and throughput as it is expected to produce more than 7,000 tons of biochar annually while reducing the volume of organic waste streams by more than 95%. “Earthcare’s gasification technology provides a circular solution to organics management through volume reduction, destruction of emerging contaminants and generating a beneficial use product that is growing in terms of its application,” added Mike McGolden.”In addition to addressing an emerging waste management crisis, we have the process experience to design our EcoCharTM end-product to provide effective environmental solutions ranging from agronomic to filtration to remediation and beyond.”
McGolden has developed significant expertise over the last 20+ years in organics management and biochar production working with a wide array of organic feedstocks. Earthcare’s patented gasification technology has been deployed in organics management applications worldwide, with more than ten gasifiers currently operating. It is also considered a leading technology in the capture and destruction of emerging contaminants, such as PFAS.