Spokane, Washington, is leading the way in sustainable waste management by exploring carbon capture technology at its waste-to-energy (WTE) facility. This initiative aims to significantly reduce CO₂ emissions from municipal waste incineration while promoting circular economy principles.

As carbon capture solutions gain traction worldwide, Spokane’s project could serve as a model for other municipalities seeking to mitigate environmental impact. This market analysis delves into the technology behind carbon sequestration at WTE facilities, potential economic and regulatory benefits, and how Spokane’s efforts align with global sustainability goals.

The city is considering a $650,000 study by CarbonQuest to test its carbon capture technology.

Spokane, Washington, is considering a $650,000 study by carbon capture company CarbonQuest to test its technology at the city’s waste-to-energy facility. 

The local community and state leaders have scrutinized the facility—the only one in the state—primarily because of its emissions, The Columbian reports.

A carbon cap-and-trade program under Washington’s Climate Commitment Act, which survived a citizen initiative in November 2024, could require Spokane to pay $2.5 million to $8 million annually beginning in 2027 to account for the facility’s emissions. 

The city lobbied the state Legislature in 2023 to fund an emissions life-cycle analysis, which found that incineration releases more carbon dioxide than landfilling, but not when factoring in electricity generated, recyclable metals recovered, and other factors. 

As reported by The Columbian, the Legislature still hasn’t agreed to an exemption for the waste-to-energy facility, leaving the city with dwindling time to avoid potentially devastating costs. To prepare for this situation, the city uses funds from the carbon credit market to study whether carbon capture technology would be feasible at the facility. 

According to Spokane’s 2019 Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report, solid waste activities produced 111,560 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2019, with waste-to-energy operations accounting for 89 percent of that number, while landfilling only accounted for 7 percent. 

According to the Columbian, Anna Pavlova, senior vice president for strategy, market development, and sustainability, the city hopes the carbon capture project could serve as a case study for waste-to-energy facilities across the county and potentially abroad. 

“The waste to energy industry in general hasn’t seen much carbon capture, even though that’s seen as the one solution to their carbon emissions,” Pavlova says. “Our hope is we can demonstrate it’s feasible, we can capture emissions, we can continue the plant running—because otherwise that garbage will go into a landfill—and we want to use that as a case study for other companies.”

If approved by the city council, the study would determine the viability of carbon capture at the waste-to-energy facility, draft designs, and explore the best ways to dispose of the concentrated CO₂ once it’s been removed.

Pavlova says Eastern Washington is well-suited for CO₂ disposal. CO2 is typically stored in deep basalt wells or magnesium formations created from natural gas use, which can turn the carbon into solid minerals such as magnesite. 

CarbonQuest’s projects in New York State have been able to move the captured CO₂ for use in concrete, where it can be stored permanently or put to commercial use. Still, she added that Washington lacks the carrots and sticks that make that market viable.

Officials are still optimistic about the potential to sell CO₂ for use in concrete, fertilizer, or sustainable aviation fuel, a potential use being explored by local startup Twelve. 

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Why Klean Industries is Leading the Future of Carbon Capture & WTE Innovation

As municipalities explore carbon capture at waste-to-energy facilities, Spokane’s initiative reflects the growing push for low-emission waste management solutions. Klean Industries is a global leader in WTE technology and carbon capture integration, providing municipalities and industries with scalable solutions to meet sustainability goals.

Why Klean Industries?

✅ Advanced Waste-to-Energy & Carbon Capture Integration – Reducing CO₂ emissions while maximizing energy recovery.
✅ Sustainable & Compliant Technology – Ensuring regulatory compliance with global carbon reduction policies.
✅ Turnkey Carbon Sequestration Solutions – Supporting municipal & industrial-scale waste-to-energy projects.
✅ Trusted by Governments & Energy Leaders – Providing proven low-carbon solutions for waste-to-energy plants.

Want to Implement Carbon Capture at Your Waste-to-Energy Facility?

Contact Klean Industries to explore scalable, high-performance CO₂ reduction technologies.