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The Śląskiego Centrum Recyklingu’ recycling centre in the Polish town of Gliwice began operations at the beginning of the year. Being a public private partnership (PPP) project, it is making an important contribution towards optimising the recycling sector. It will, for example, ensure that the region fulfils the latest legal regulations and that it takes a big step forward towards reaching its recycling targets.
Using EU directives as a basis, Poland is currently working on ensuring that its commercial waste is handled in a more environmentally sound manner and that it achieves higher recycling rates. If it is to succeed here, then it is vital that a suitable infrastructure is set up – a task that requires both know-how and capital. Many local authorities have, therefore, opted to collaborate with REMONDIS. As have the city authorities in Gliwice in the Silesian Voivodeship. They have been running a PPP company with REMONDIS for many years now. This central recycling centre is yet another PPP project in which the municipal landfill business owns a 49% share and the company a 51% share.
“Thanks to the state-of-the-art technology at our centre, we are able to efficiently recover the recyclable contents and reduce the amount of material that has to be taken to landfill – especially the biodegradable fractions.”
Dr Dariusz Szyszka, Project Manager at Gliwice Recycling Centre
Covering an area of 2.5 hectares, the recycling centre is able to treat municipal waste using mechanical and biological processes as well as to recover recyclable materials and separate them into different fractions. Moreover, the site also operates a composting plant. Managing director Dr Dariusz Szyszka commented: “Thanks to the state-of-the-art technology at our centre, we are able to efficiently recover the recyclable contents and reduce the amount of material that has to be taken to landfill – especially the biodegradable fractions.” The technology installed at the recycling centre will help the region to meet the more stringent legal regulations and is also setting the course for the future. One of Poland’s goals for 2020 is for at least 50% of all waste paper, glass, metal and plastic to be recovered and recycled.
REMONDIS is helping to set up a network of efficient plants and facilities in Poland. Three pilot projects involving recycling facilities have begun operations over the last twelve months alone – in Opole, Tarnowskie Góry and Gliwice.
Poland’s National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management provided financial support for the construction of the recycling centre as it, too, recognised just how important this project was for the region. Moreover, the centre has been officially certified as a RIPOK regional plant. Recycling facilities that have been given this status are particularly efficient and meet high environmental standards. From summer 2018 onwards, plants will only be allowed to operate in Poland if they have been granted RIPOK status.
High profile guests at the opening of the recycling centre in Gliwice: (from left to right): Egbert Tölle, REMONDIS Board Member, Heinrich Zölzer, former supervisory board member of the RETHMANN Group, Karina Sternol, Assistant to the CEO REMONDIS Gliwice, Norbert Rethmann, Honorary Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the RETHMANN Group, Klaudiusz Siwiec, Chairman of the Silesian Chamber of Commerce, Piotr Lubos, CEO of REMONDIS Gliwice