FuelCal® and circular economy
The FuelCal® technology in circular economy
The inhabitants of the Earth are exploiting its resources at an incredible rate. If this process remains so dynamic, then in 2050 it may turn out that we need three Earths to fulfil our raw material needs. Besides, by consuming resources we contribute to environmental pollution and climate change.
Therefore, with these considerations in mind, it is necessary to move from a “take-make-dispose” society model to carbon neutral and environmentally sustainable one, which reduces pollution and toxins – the CIRCULAR ECONOMY. This must happen as soon as possible and by 2050 at the latest. Others are talking about it – we are already doing it!
The FuelCal® technology works in circular economy.
The FuelCal® technology addresses this matter perfectly. All waste, sludge, biomass, according to classical thinking, should be disposed of, for example, burned, which exposes the environment to the harmful impact of CO2 and toxins and consequently intensifies climate change. If we look at the problem through the lens of the FuelCal® technology, it turns out we can convert any organic biomass, waste, sludge into a product that can be used in agriculture. So, the waste is reused, recycled and not disposed of in a harmful manner.
From grain to grain – how it works
Let us see what it looks like in reality on the following example. The grain cut in the field ends up on our tables as bread and after human consumption, it naturally reaches the sewage treatment plant. There, sewage sludge is converted into the FuelCal® technology end product of the OrCal® series. A valued fertiliser, full of calcium and organics, is sown in the field, in which grain will be sown again. Over and over again…
FuelCal® – a proven solution on a large scale
As the supplier of the FuelCal® technology, Evergreen Solutions has been showing for years that circular economy principles can be successfully implemented in municipal facilities. The evidence are the projects implemented at sewage treatment plants, for example, in Sierpc, Grodzisk Wielkopolski, Kołobrzeg, Śrem, Wolsztyn and Sierakowice. The sewage treatment plants in the above places implement the circular economy strategy by converting sewage sludge, which was used in agriculture before (raw sewage sludge can be hazardous to the environment and humans) or disposed of, into the OrCal® product. The key to success is not only safe technology, but also the renowned OrCal® pHregulator® products, which provides closed-loop closure in companies and full biomass recycling. With all responsibility, it can be said that OrCal® equals safety.
From method R10 to R3, that is no sludge to the field.
Since November 2020, a draft amendment to the regulation on municipal sewage sludge handling is known. It assumes that agricultural use shall be replaced with recycling or recovery. In practice, this means a move away from the so-called method R10 to R3. This is absolutely the right thing to do, as organic matter – natural nitrogen, phosphorus or potassium – should be safely returned into the soil. What man’s actions have taken away from nature, should be returned to it, that is sewage sludge should be used as substrate for the production of fertilisers of the OrCal® series, for example. In practice, this is shown in the above infographic. The implementation of this amendment means that sludge should ideally be converted into a product – Evergreen Solutions and its Partners have been doing this for a long time.
Solution to code 19 08 05 sludge
It is fundamental that the sewage treatment plant does not leave waste, of which the main source in such facilities is condensed sewage sludge, code 19 08 05. And this is the case, because as the technology solutions provider, Evergreen Solutions is proving that a sewage treatment plant can be passive, because the FuelCal® technology uses 100% of the sewage sludge biomass as the substrate to produce OrCal® pHregulator® series products.
What about sand and screened solids?
What remains is the sand from sand traps and screened solids. The latter must be handled in accordance with applicable regulations, that is disposed of. However, there are solutions based on the use of consortia of beneficial micro-organisms that enable biological processing of screened solids and separate the solids to use the residue biomass for agricultural purposes. This significantly reduces the volume, but does not solve the problem completely.
By-products of animal origin? Post-catering waste? FuelCal® can handle it!
In line with current trends, as part of the Green Deal, sewage treatment plants should also act as treatment centres for other waste categories as well, for example. green biomass, post-catering waste, by-products of animal products. Evergreen Solutions, as the supplier of the FuelCal® technology and equipment, is prepared for this and offers equipment designed to receive, shred and process the above waste. Thus, we meet all the criteria of circular economy, while solving local waste management problems.
Business model of Evergreen Solutions vs circular economy and the Green Deal
By making available the FuelCal® technology, Evergreen Solutions not only solves the problems of sewage treatment plants, but also supports the circular economy with its actions. With the pro-active promotion of OrCal® series products and the distribution activities pursued together with Partners, OrCal® products are successfully used in agriculture.