The first step – reducing the amount of waste and sludge

From Waste to Traffic Fuel is aiming at comprehensive sustainability in its target areas. Therefore, even though biodegradable waste and sludge can be used as an excellent material for biogas, the first step is to reduce the amount of waste.

Several studies show that waste prevention is an environmentally and economically effective waste policy. In the EU Directive on Waste, prevention is the overriding policy, the first step on the top of the waste hierarchy. However, only minor progress has been made in the area.

Waste prevention decreases greenhouse gases and saves energy, raw material and costs. Especially the food chain will save the costs of resources, energy and waste management with effective biowaste prevention.

A rather common error when planning treatment plants is to overestimate the local amount of waste. From Waste to Traffic Fuel project is taking special consideration in waste prevention as well as reducing the amount of sludges. The aim of the project is to develop realistic plans for the biogas production. Therefore, the plans for biogas plants are based on assessed amounts of waste and sludge that will be produced in the regions after effective waste prevention measures.