Turning Organic Waste into Energy and Compost: the process

The system integrates anaerobic digestion and tunnel composting in several steps:

• Collection and inspection of biowaste from municipal separate collection (household bio-bins), including food scraps, garden waste and other biodegradable materials, as well as organic biogenic waste from small businesses. Feedstock quality requirements are applied before processing.
• Physical pre-treatment, such as screening, before the material is fed into the anaerobic digestion unit.
• Anaerobic digestion, where biowaste is converted into biogas. The process operates under thermophilic conditions at 55 °C for 14 days.
• Mixing with green waste and transfer to composting tunnels.
• Tunnel composting, where the material undergoes hygienisation and stabilisation under controlled temperature profiles.
• Sieving and removal of inert materials such as plastics or metals.

Many steps are automated, including shredding, sieving, material transport through conveyor belts, fermentation control, and ventilation within the composting tunnels. Rainwater is used to meet water needs, meaning no fresh water consumption is required. The compost can be applied within existing agricultural systems.