Care for the environment
The construction of an environmentally-friendly heat source shall allow for replacement of the current, worn out coal-fired plants with renewable energy sources, which will provide the residents of Olsztyn primarily with ecological heat and electricity. The Waste to Energy Plant shall make it possible to reduce by up to half the amount of coal currently used to produce thermal energy, and thus significantly reduce emissions of pollutants – harmful dusts and gases – into the atmosphere, which shall contribute to a significant improvement in air quality throughout the region. The heat generated by the plant shall ensure year-round supply of hot water for approx. 100,000 residents of Olsztyn. Producing the same amount of energy in a conventional source would consume approx. 55,000 tons of coal per year, which would translate into annual CO2 emissions of approx. 100,000 tons.
The main benefits of the new investment also relate to ensuring the highest quality of the environment. This is especially important for Warmia and Mazury – one of the most beautiful and cleanest regions in Poland. The plant constructed by Dobra Energia dla Olsztyn as a whole shall meet the highest standards in terms of environmental protection and shall even exceed the European requirements (already preparing for future regulations), defined in the new BAT conclusions. The facility shall be one of the most modern and ecological plants not only in Poland, but also in Europe.
The environmentally-friendly management of the calorific combustible fraction from municipal waste is also a direct contribution to the European policy aimed at reducing the share of waste landfills as a waste management tool. This project shall contribute to the fight against climate change and the implementation of the circular economy. It is also an important element of the implementation of the sustainable development policy of cities in Poland, because the plant under construction shall be an integral part of the waste management system which covers approx. 790 thousand people from the Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship.
Impact on the climate
The Waste to Energy Plant in Olsztyn is built on the basis of the current BAT conclusions, i.e. the best technologies available for this type of plants from the point of view of environmental protection, as defined by the European Commission.
Ultimately, the WTE Plant shall contribute to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by up to 150,000 tons per year by replacing traditional coal sources with a Refuse Derived Fuel.
The Management Board of Dobra Energia dla Olsztyna is aware of the climate changes taking place and the resulting risks to our business. At the same time, the construction of the Waste to Energy Plant is intended to contribute to reducing the likelihood of the risks relating to climate listed below.
Development of the local economy
The implementation of the investment carried out by the Company is not only beneficial for the environment. The residents and public administration are the direct and indirect beneficiaries of this project. Our activities provide tangible economic benefits to both state authorities and local governments, through the taxes we pay, and to the local community, through the creation of new jobs. In 2020-2021, the peak daily employment on the construction site (blue-collar workers and supervisory employees) covered approx. 320 persons.
The project uses the local goods and services market (construction materials, accommodation services, catering, transportation, etc.), thus indirectly affecting the recovery of these industries, partly compensating for the difficulties they faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. By the end of 2021, the company cooperated in the field of construction works with 23 companies from the Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship.
In addition, the construction of the Waste to Energy Plant shall also have an indirect economic impact by introducing significant changes in the waste management system in the region of Warmia and Mazury. In the long run, the operation of the plant shall stabilize prices of municipal waste collection from the residents. A state-of-the-art environmentally-friendly power plant shall make the municipal heating system in Olsztyn largely independent of coal – fuel imported from outside the region, whose import generated significant costs for local authorities. The new plant shall be supplied with fuel produced locally by the region’s residents using waste collected from their homes and apartments.
Stakeholder meetings
As a company that wants to act for the benefit of the local community, from the very beginning we want to be perceived not only as an investor, but also as a partner and a good neighbor. Especially since the public-private partnership agreement under which we operate has been concluded for 25 years from the time the plant is built and started in 2023. In this way, the company has become a long-term partner of the local community, for as long as a quarter of a century. This is why it is so important for us to establish positive relations with our environment, through cooperation and ongoing contact with the local community and stakeholders.
We know that the most mature approach to stakeholder relations involves systematic dialog with them and joint planning and implementation of various corporate social responsibility investments. Direct relationships with stakeholders are prevalent in our company. We have a deep sense of duty to act for the benefit of regional community and its education. We want to meet the needs and expectations of residents, also in terms of access to information on the WTE Plant operation and the positive consequences for the environment in various aspects – not only ecological production of energy and heat, but also the circular economy.
Therefore, on December 3, 2021. Dobra Energia dla Olsztyna organized the first meeting of project stakeholders. Due to the epidemic situation, it was held online.
The meeting was conducted on the basis of the AA1000 AccountAbility Principles Standard (AA1000APS1), which defines three basic principles relating to managing stakeholder relations: inclusivity, materiality and responsiveness.
The panel allowed for the exchange of the relevant information and contributed to further development of stakeholder confidence in the Company. It also increased the awareness of its participants and allowed us to better understand the expectations of the environment in which the company operates. The effect of the panel was to learn the expectations of stakeholders and their opinions on the company’s activities and the implemented project.
The meeting combined the form of discussion with an expert speech, with the participation of an independent specialist in the field of waste management, Prof. Grzegorz Wielgosiński, Ph.D., Eng.
Involvement in local community initiatives
Prior to the dialog sessions, a stakeholder map was drawn up to identify:
- stakeholder groups,
- strength (current and expected
relationships), - impact on the enterprise.
More than sixty representatives of key stakeholder groups were invited to the meeting, which include:
- local government,
- public administration (other than local
government), - non-governmental organizations,
- subcontractors,
- local community/residents,
- media.
The meeting was open to the public. A link to the meeting was posted on the company’s website for all interested project stakeholders to use.
The panel attendees asked questions concerning, i.a.:
- the impact of the WTE Plant construction on the cost of waste collection from residents;
- possible odors from the WTE Plant;
- emission of CO2 and other environmentally harmful substances and dust;
- possible impact of the WTE Plant on the amount of waste recycled;
- costs which shall be incurred by the residents of Olsztyn in connection with heating their households.
As a socially responsible company, we are engaged in important local initiatives aimed at spreading ecological knowledge through entertainment.
Dobra Energia was an Environmental Partner of the eighth edition of Olsztyn Green Festival – an extraordinary event that combines good music and ecology. The company prepared a special, ecological Studio of Meetings with Dobra Energia, where festival participants had the opportunity to meet and talk with interesting guests and artists, talking about their environmentally-friendly approach to life and the essence of protecting the environment in which we all live.
During three days of the festival, our Studio hosted such personalities as: Gustaw Marek Brzezin – Marshall of the Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship, Jacek Wasik – Director of Regional Office of the Representation of the European Commission in Poland, Marcin Popkiewicz – physicist, co-creator of “Ziemia na rozdrożu” and “Nauka o klimacie” websites, musicians – Muniek Staszczyk, Natalia Przybysz, Król, Karaś / Rogucki and Kwiat Jabłoni band. In addition, together with the organizers of the event, we have prepared the “Strefa Dobrej Energii” (Good Energy Zone) for the festival participants, equipped with benches allowing them to charge their phones with green energy. The youngest children could take part in “Warsztaty Eko z Dobrą Energią” (Ecological Workshops with Dobra Energia), where, under the supervision of animators, they could learn what recycling is all about and how to create their own toys and small works of art from packaging.
As a company that wants to be a good neighbor, we supported family-oriented, very local initiatives – “Magiczny Park Jakubowo” and “Promyczkowy EKO Festyn na Piątkę” festivals. In addition to the financial commitment, we donated, i.a., various eco-friendly gadgets for the participants.
