Composting plants

Composting plant: what is it?

A composting plant is designed to accelerate the natural process of turning organic residues into compost, a material rich in organic matter and nutrients used as a fertiliser (soil conditioner). This process, known as composting, occurs in controlled environments through the activity of microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi.

Composting plants can vary in complexity and scalability depending on the amount of organic waste handled.

Our composting plants

Aprilia Plant

120,000
t/y
AUTHORISED WASTE QUANTITY
20,000
t
COMPOST PRODUCTION

*Data as at 31 December 2022

Area served: Predominantly municipalities in the Lazio region.

The integrated anaerobic digestion and composting plant has an authorised capacity of 120,000 t/y. The anaerobic digestion section only treats organic fraction from separate collection and green manure, while the composting-only section also treats sludge from civil sewage treatment plants and agro-food waste. Two different types of compost are then produced: ACM (mixed composted soil improver) and ACF (composted soil improver with sludge). Three cogenerators installed, with a total capacity of 3.0 MW, allow the production of about 23,000 MWh/year of electricity (in addition to thermal energy recovery). In addition, a compost bagging line was installed in 2021, with the aim of activating additional market outlets for the placement of the soil improver, and a line for the production of CSS from process waste. allowing the waste to be delivered to the waste to energy plant in San Vittore del Lazio. Furthermore, in 2023, Regione Lazio authorised additional plant and management optimisation to increase efficiency (basically found in the installation of a second juicer, a second weight, a rubber washing system, a different distribution of flows in the system).

 

Monterotondo Marittimo Plant

70,000
t/y
AUTHORISED WASTE QUANTITY
23,206
t
COMPOST PRODUCTION

*Data as at 31 December 2022

Area served: Predominantly municipalities in the Tuscany region.

The Monterotondo Marittimo composting plant, which underwent revamping works in 2019, is equipped with the most advanced technologies on the market. By exploiting combined anaerobic-aerobic technology achieves a treatment capacity of 70,000 tons/year of waste (consisting of organic fraction, clippings and prunings, and sludge), with a total annual electricity production of about 6 GWh, with recovery of the thermal energy produced.

The plant provides significant environmental benefits by turning organic waste into useful fertiliser for agriculture (compost) and producing electricity from renewable sources through the energy valorisation of biogas.

Orvieto Plant

80,000
t/y
WASTE AUTHORISED*
4,328
t
COMPOST PRODUCTION

*Plant for integrated anaerobic digestion and composting (including TMB section)

*Data as at 31 December 2022

Area served: Predominantly municipalities in the Tuscany region.

The main activities carried out at the plant include the sorting and recycling of urban waste, anaerobic digestion and quality composting of recycled waste and the disposal of non-dangerous, special waste in landfills. The main objectives, in compliance with current legislation, is to enhance material and energy recover and reduce the amount of disposed waste in landfills.

The two plants for energy production in Orvieto are both powered by biogas produced by the anaerobic section of the treatment plant and by landfills. In 2023, the amount of incoming waste in the plant was 99,513 tonnes. 60% (approximately 59,700 tonnes) was disposed in landfills, while the rest of it was almost entirely sent to the anaerobic digestion and composting section of the treatment plant for biogas and compost production.

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