Waste Management Conference 2022 - In the Age of the Circular Economy

Wels 3.-6.5.2022

Two COSMOnauts attended the waste management conference in Wels this year. This year’s conference of the ÖWAV (Austrian Water and Waste Management Association) was all about the circular economy. Not only the climate crisis but also the issue of resource shortages have led to the considerations of a circular production and consumption chain in which the resources used are returned completely to the production process at the end of their service life. This concept is not new and some, also legal measures in the last few years have been derived from this, including the deposit for single-use plastic or recycling quotas. With such closed-loop waste management, disposal companies will have to search for a new place in the economy when responsibility is shifting to manufacturing companies. How will the industry and fields of activity develop and what preparations are necessary?

The first day started with the topic “How healthy is waste management for society?”. In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the presentation could not be more relevant. It was explained, among other things, how the separation of wastewater sewers and freshwater canals contributed to sanitation and, as a result, a pandemic like cholera had been stopped. It can also clear that the population has significant health benefits from a comprehensive waste and wastewater system.

After this speech in support of the function of waste management in society, the focus was on current developments. It was emphasised that the concept of closed-loop waste management is incorporated at a political level. At the same time, the circular economy strategy, containing 600 measures, was presented. With this strategy, Austria is on its way to becoming climate neutral by 2040. Additionally topics for all of Europe, such as a long-overdue strategy for the textile industry, as well as its implementation on a local level, including playful learning for children, were discussed.

The first day concluded with the “Phoenix” prize being awarded. The 50 submitted projects were assessed by a judging panel in terms of creativity, innovation, practicability and waste management relevance. The six nominated projects also had the opportunity to present to the audience. The happy winner, Mr Hackl, with his project, “We are getting the best out of the waste”, received the award for the reconstruction and refurbishment of the modern and innovative sorting and substitute fuel production plant. The highlight of the evening was the poster session promoted by the waste management conference. With few words and images, complicated projects or years of research were presented in a clear manner and the authors were available to answer any questions. Ms Gudrun Pichler-Zecha received the most votes by smartphone for the best poster presentation for her Trash-Stop, a project which is a drive-in waste sorting stop at the event area in Ried.

The second day was entirely focused on technology, and highlighted developments in sorting plants. As impurities make it difficult for the recycling companies to produce clean, homogeneous recyclates, new technologies like lasers, magnetism, traditional sieving and manual sorting were highlighted. A particular focus was also placed on the new opportunities offered by sensor technology. In this regard, the opportunities offered by the IoT (internet of things) were demonstrated. The prerequisite for this is, of course, a corresponding IT architecture with which this data can be processed and evaluated in a timely and relevant manner.

The second block of presentations was organised by the young ÖWAV. For the first (and only) time, the gender ratio on stage was, encouragingly, well balanced. In a dynamic pitch-question format, three topics regarding the future of waste management were presented: How can 100% closed-loop waste management become a reality? What is the best way to utilise organic waste? How can you customise local collections using sensors and influence waste collection behaviour in a positive way?

The afternoon focused the recycling of plastics and textiles. A comprehensive study on the routes of plastic in Austria was presented which contained interesting information on sources of origin and possibilities for reduction. At the same time new technologies and existing initiatives for textile recycling were also highlighted, a topic which had previously received hardly any attention.  The process is complex because the components are so small and interwoven that it is almost impossible to separate them.

On the third day, excursions to showcase companies in the surrounding area were on the agenda, including Energie AG in Timelkamm and the waste material collection centre (ASZ) Vöcklabruck. Even though the biomass power plant in Timelkamm could not be visited due to an audit, there was a great exhibition on the topic of energy and power generation. In the well thought out and organised waste material collection centre Vöcklabruck, there was an opportunity to gain a good insight into the processes of collecting recyclable materials. It shows to the extent to which careful local sorting supports recycling from the beginning and, in part, even makes it possible in the first place.

Overall the conference showed that the industry will face some challenges in the future, some of them very big, and that it will be necessary to react quickly. For example, it needs technology (sorting systems), IoT (sensor technology), new sales and business management ideas, but also digitisation, which plays a role especially in the trends of the future. At the same time, the existing data and system landscape in the background must also be highlighted. Implementation of closed-loop recycling will depend on the ability to track and evaluate the necessary current flows. Likewise, customisation and flexibilization of the processes are challenges that can be overcome with the appropriate support by suitable IT systems. Luckily, the COSMO Environmental Services System is tailored for exactly this purpose.

Contact us to find out more about the opportunities.