Anaerobic Digestion & Composting - Bio-Energy Centre - Schwarze Elster
About this good practice
The Waste Management Association Schwarze Elster (AEV) is responsible for collection, transport, recycling and disposal of wastes in the counties “Elbe-Elster” and “Oberspreewald-Lausitz”, a rural area of 2,468 km² and about 182.000 inhabitants.
The AEV introduced the bin for organic waste collection 2016 as pilot study to evaluate organic waste disposal habits of citizens as well as the quality of the waste. Meantime the former mechanical biological treatment plant was reconstructed for processing organic waste only, further a biogas plant for electricity production was installed. In the year 2019 the bin for organic waste was introduced on voluntary basis, simultaneously a public information campaign of proper waste separation was conducted. In the end of 2021, the annual collection rate per capita of 37 kg exceeds the mean collection rate of Brandenburg of 27 kg. The collection rate is continuously rising. Together with the waste from greenery 8,126 Mg of organic waste were collected. The anaerobic digestion plant has a capacity of 24,000 Mg per year, the capacity is also used by the adjacent city Cottbus to treat organic wastes.
In the plant the collected organic waste is processed by anaerobic digestion. Thereby, about 180 kWh of electricity per Mg is produced. Afterwards, the organic waste is composted. The quality control during the whole treatment process guarantees a compost which can be used as fertilizer and planting substrate.
Resources needed
About 6 Mio. Euros for reconstruction of the mechanical-biological treatment plant for anaerobic digestion of organic wastes only as well as for energy production.
Evidence of success
Since the introduction of the bin for organic waste the collection rate is steadily increasing from 0 to 5,316 Mg in 2019 to 6,687 Mg in 2021. The energy output of the anaerobic digestion plant is 180 kWh per Mg of organic waste. The compost, which is produced out of the residues of the anaerobic digestion process, is used by the local agriculture and the citizens. The compost has just little impurities due to the information campaign for proper waste separation.
Potential for learning or transfer
Across the European Union separated waste collection is still weak. In particular, by the collection of organic waste in connection with an adequate further treatment (composting, anaerobic digestion) climate gas emission can be reduced and -regarding anaerobic digestion- energy can be produced. The application of compost as fertilizers keeps nutrients in the local agriculture. Public awareness for waste separation and information campaigns are crucial to obtain compost of good quality and little impurities.