Horse Bedding Disposal
In 2007, MMR became the only business approved by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to haul and recycle soiled horse bedding. During a plant tour, MSU researcher, Matt Shane, posed a question that would help the horse industry and add a new fuel stream to the Genesee Power Station, a state of the art biomass plant, burning wood waste to generate electricity: Was it possible to utilize the wood from soiled horse bedding for its BTU value with the manure and urine being included as bi-products?
The horse industry has long struggled to properly dispose of soiled bedding used by roughly half of the 155,000 horses located in the state of Michigan. After 18 months of testing and regulatory permitting the idea to burn used horse bedding to create green power became a reality. GPS utilizes state of the art technology to cleanly burn horse bedding, creating steam and green electricity. One truckload of used wood based horse bedding can produce enough electricity for about 32 homes for one month. The popular cost share recycling program was not only economical but an environmentally friendly, carbon neutral, recycling solution. From program inception through 2010, a total of 68,094 tons of used horse bedding was recycled producing electricity for 40,714 homes for one month.
As with any new program, procedures and parameters required adjustments as circumstances changed. Unfortunately, increased volumes and weather patterns created facility problems that were not economically correctable. It was a series of events that lead to the conclusion that not all horse bedding material is ideal for electricity generation.
Today we service a handful of client’s mostly fair grounds and horse shows where the material’s exposure to the elements is limited. We believe there is a place for this program in the future with further technology advancement and we will continue to explore possibilities. Please call if you have a large event you need serviced. We would be happy to evaluate your material for program eligibility.
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Did You Know?
About 48,000 of Michigan’s 155,000 horses are
stalled using wood based recyclable bedding
products.
Many equine owners do not have enough land to spread
their used bedding at proper agronomic rates.
Recycling wood waste into electricity reduces
dependency on fossil fuels for power generation and
reduces green house gases.
Our Services
Flexibility - MMR can provide
transportation and recycling service to almost any
size farm and provide recycling service on a
schedule that meets your needs.
Environmental Assurance - Your used
horse bedding will be recycled in an environmentally
permitted facility, in compliance with state and
federal regulations.
Convenience — MMR will do the work,
saving you time and labor
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