Mustankorkea biogas ecosystem
About this good practice
The waste company Mustankorkea is owned by four municipalities, and it is responsible of waste collection and treatment in the most densely populated municipalities in Central Finland.
Municipalities’ separately collected biowaste was earlier composted in Jyväskylä region, creating carbon emissions. As the composting facility capacity was getting too small at the beginning of the 2010s, the options were either to invest in a biogas plant or a bigger composting facility. Biowaste is a great raw material for biogas production, decreasing emissions and providing green fuel option for the community.
Since 2017 biowaste from the region is collected and treated in the waste treatment facility in a biogas reactor and the residuals in a composting facility. Station’s waste collection vehicles run on the produced biogas and two refueling stations are provided for public use. The biogas facility can refuel about 1,000 personnel LD vehicles annually.
The residuals and other by-products from wastewater treatment plant and nearby farms are composted and used in garden soil production. The scale of the biowaste collection in Mustankorkea area, about 15,600 ton (2022) provides profitable basis for biogas production. Locally produced biogas increases regional resilience, provides jobs, and decreases emissions.
Resources needed
Out of the total investment cost of 15 m€, TEM (Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment)) supported 2,2 m€.
Plant Manager, Production manager, 2-3 operators and composting facility manager
Evidence of success
The establishment of the biogas facility has helped to promote a circular economy, the use of biogas as a transport fuel and garden soil usage.
In 2022, a record 823 000 kg of biogas was sold. It was over 100 000 kg more than in 2021. This practice is also considered good because it presents an idea of circular economy where our waste can be reused- Waste to value. With economic of scale, a larger plant could be more profitable.
Potential for learning or transfer
Many public authors have set ambitious climate targets. To achieve these targets, responsible authorities must consider how to make biowaste useful.
The example of Mustankorkea shows that local biowaste of municipalities can be used as biogas for sustainable transport and cured compost used as fertilizer as such or as a fertilizing component in prepared
gardening and green area soils. From the year 2016 onwards Mustankorkea has sold fertilized soils with their own trademark, OmapihaTM, both biowaste and sludge compost are used as fertilizers in prepared soils. in 2023 ca. 45,600 ton (over 4000 truck load) were sold.
This good practice offers an opportunity to promote the circular economy by using the biowaste produced in the area locally as biogas for transport. There is learning potential in both the approach and the technological solutions that have been exploited at Mustankorkea.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.