In 1984, the MDC entered into an agreement to operate the Mid-Connecticut trash-to-energy project for the Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority (CRRA). After construction and a few months of start-up testing, the facility began commercial operation in October 1988. In fiscal 1999, the project turned 777,136 tons of municipal solid waste (well in excess of the 624,000-ton-per year design capacity) from more than 60 communities into refuse-derived fuel. That fuel is burned along with coal to produce 68.5 megawatts of electricity; the equivalent of more than 750,000 barrels of oil, or enough electricity to power 70,000 households for a year.

In addition to operating the actual waste processing facility in Hartford’s South Meadows, MDC employees also operate the Hartford Landfill.

Improvements made to the project at the MDC’s suggestions in concert with CRRA include: increasing the horsepower of the primary shredders from 300 to 500 horsepower; increasing the horsepower of the secondary shredders from 1000 to 1250 horsepower; redesigning several conveyors to contain spillage and reduce excessive jams, as well as expanding the truck dumping area and the storage area for end-product storage.

In 1995, the MDC built a $3.7 million vehicle maintenance facility in the South Meadows. The facility was designed and built with the servicing of the Mid-Connecticut fleet as a high priority.