Birmingham, Ala.-based Masada, a technology firm that converts municipal solid waste (MSW) into ethanol, has announced an agreement with a privately-owned waste management company in the Dominican Republic to build facilities that will convert MSW into ethanol and electricity. The 20-year agreement with RJ Zapata & Associates, which includes construction of the new facilities in Santo Domingo East, is expected to produce nearly 30 million gallons of fuel-grade ethanol each year.

"We are excited to have RJ Zapata as our team leader in the Dominican Republic," said Donald Watkins, CEO for Masada, in a press release. "They run a world-class waste hauling operation and have a clear vision of how to turn the Dominican Republic's waste streams into clean, renewable fuels. We are extremely proud of this partnership."