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Waste is a resourcein EcocityUlla-Maija Mroueh, Customer Manager, VTT Technical Research
Centre of Finland
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Waste management in EcoCity
Outline of the presentation
Basic principles of waste management in
EcoCity
Waste collection and source separation Waste treatment methods
Future opportunities
Optimised waste treatment system
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Basic principles of waste management in EcoCity
EcoCity uses resources sparingly
Waste management and recycling is an integral part
of the resource management of the city
MateriaI efficiency is considered in town planning and
in all the activities of the city Life Cycle impacts of the resource management chain are
understood and controlled
Used resources are returned to natural or anthropogenic cycles
Keep soil healthy by returning nutrients and organic carbon
Maximum reuse of raw materials
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Basic principles of waste management in EcoCity
EcoCity does not pollute the environment
No emissions to soil, water or air from waste disposal,
treatment and transport
Responsibility and control
Waste is collected, recycled and treatedby responsible parties
The target is to produce high-quality sorted waste fractions,
which are easy to sell to re-users
The life in the city is enjoyable
Technology makes waste collection and recycling easy
for residents and workers
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What kind of waste is produced
Municipal waste
Waste from food production (fish, vegetables,
meat production?), mainly biodegradable
Hazardous waste
Bioenergy ashes
Construction waste
Sludge from wastewater treatment
Waste from enterprises - offices, small
companies, trade
And...
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Easy to-use source-separation systems
Each type of waste is collected separately
Better quality and recovery rate by
easy-to-use systems
Well-planned waste sorting facilities
in homes Separate waste bins for recyclable wastes
Waste sorting instructions in all residences
Hazardous waste separated from
other wastes
EkoLine waste sorting system by Stala Oy
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Easy to-use source-separation systems
In apartment buildings and offices
automatic waste transportation may be
arranged by conveyor systems
Conveyors may also be used for transport
of sorted wastes from waste collectionpoints
Conveyor system will be built, e.g. in Central
Congress Hall of Beijing Olympics
In Finland systems used in large
shopping centres
Waste conveyor system by Puzair Oy
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Collection of waste
For single-family homes and hazardous waste
collection points
Example: deep collection containers may be used
Space saving, most of the containerunderground
Optimisation of waste collection system
done in town planning stage
Proper location of buildings helps
to find best possible collection points
and optimal transport routes
Waste deep collection containers, Molok Oy
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Mechanical sorting plants
Treatment in mechanical sorting
plants
May help to optimise transport
Utilisation of mixed waste
treatment residue problematic The waste amount produced in
small cities may not be sufficient
for mechanical treatment plant
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Waste transport
In conveyor systems waste is transported by
pipeline to deep waste container/pressing
containers
Transportation from waste collection points
by small trucks ICT-based system used for
optimisation of waste logistics
New technologies for automatic identification
of waste types, waste container filling rates, etc.
will be introduced
System for optimisation of waste logistics,Ecomond Oy
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Composting
For biodegrable waste: from kitchen, garden,
farming and food production, waste water
treatment, anaerobic treatment of waste
Organic, biodegradable waste is recycled and
utilised for soil enrichment Reduces emissions of waste treatment
Reduces soil degradation by returning the
organic matter and nutrients to soil
Soil is kept fertile without synthetic fertilisers
Helps to remeadiate contaminated soil by
binding metals and absorbing organic pollutants
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One-family composters
Small composters for one family or a few families
Closed, rodent isolated, heat isolated in cold
conditions, leachate collection
Open composting only for garden waste
Several types and models produced in Finland Finnish small composters adapted to demanding
weather conditions
Maintenance is needed to produce good quality compost
Requirements Separate collection of compostable waste
A person responsible for maintaining
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Composting plants
Composting in closed tunnel or drum plant
Final refinement of the compost in piles (closed plant)
No odours, emissions are treated, e.g. by biofiltration
Leachate is collected and treated for recycling
Utilisation of the heat produced if possible
Vapo tunnel composting plant
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How to ensure good quality of the compost
Planning and delivery by
experienced parties
Capacity of the plant sufficient
Control of incoming material
Pretreatment of the material(shredding and mixing)
Process control (temperature,
oxygen, pressure)
Control of the product, product
quality criteria
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Anaerobic digestion and composting of residue
Anaerobic digestion an alternative
for compostion
Produced gas may be used as
biofuel
In stoves, for heating,electricity production, as
transport fuel
Substitutes for other fuels
Residue may be composted and
used as soil amendment
Potentially reduced greenhouse gasemissions compared with
composting
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Management of inorganic waste
Presorting inside the city
Most of the sorted waste transported to treatment plants
Producer responsibility basic principle
Promotion of responsible consumption is important
In the absence of producer responsibility systemsthe city must take responsibility for sustainable treatment
Ecological and social sustainability
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Waste from "business life"
Ashes from bioenergy production
Utilisation as fertiliser or in earth construction possible
Requires environmental characterisation
Pretreatment (washing, granulation) may be needed
for reduction of metal leaching
for improvement of technical properties
Construction and demolition waste
Presorting at construction sites
Reuse or utilisation in energy production, earthworks Other materials sent to recycling plants
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Optimised waste treatment system
Material-efficiency is considered in town-planning
and all the activities of the city
Opportunities to reduce waste production
Packaging of self-produced goods optimised
Preference to recyclable and reusable productse.g. reusable transport packing
Preference to services
Joint use of appliances/equipment, etc.
Utilisation of ICT technology instead of paper
Good maintenance services Flexible buildings
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Optimised waste treatment system
High recycling targets compared to best existing systems
New operational models and ways of thinking needed
0 %
10 %
20 %
30 %
40 %
50 %
60 %
70 %
80 %
90 %
100 %
Biowaste Paper and
cardboard
Glass Metal Electronic
waste
Wood
Recycling rates of household waste in the
Helsinki Metropolitan Area for 2004 (YTV, 2005)
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Optimised waste treatment system
Organic biodegradable waste is collected and treated separately
inside the city
Usable, high-quality products
Optimised plants with minimal emissions and energy use
Inorganic waste is source-separated and transported to pretreatmentcentres or to treatment plants
Easy-to-use source separation systems
Ensure that waste is transported and treated by
responsible parties