What is circular economy?
We are becoming more mature as a society, which makes us more caring in terms of environmental aspects. We dream for a better life not only for ourselves, but also for future generations. We want to live in a clean and sustainable environment. We pay more attention to possible ways to achieve this goal. One way is to implement a circular economy, also known as a closed-loop economy. Its main idea is to reduce the production of waste as much as possible, and if it is not possible, to reuse it as secondary raw materials. But what about mixed waste which cannot be recovered in the recycling process? How to reduce the amount of waste remaining in landfills?
Although more and more households are segregating their waste, a statistical inhabitant of the Warmian-Masurian province still produces about 190 kg of mixed waste per year. Waste-to-Energy Plant is the solution that will help to close circular economy in Olsztyn very soon. The WtE will use our local residual waste to produce thermal energy, enough to heat 30,000 fifty-foot apartments for whole year. Mixed waste in the form of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) will not only become a source of heat, but the combustion process will also generate enough electricity to power, for example, 83,000 100-watt light bulbs 24 hours a day, all year round. Producing low-carbon energy from waste has significant impact on air quality by reduction of its pollution. WtE will reduce Olsztyn’s carbon footprint by more than 100,000 tons per year.
Thermal conversion of waste into clean, green energy is necessary and is one of the basic elements of a sustainable circular economy.
