Infrastruktura - Środowisko - Energia
Dodatek lobbingowy do "RZECZPOSPOLITEJ".
18 października 2007 r.

po polsku

This project contributes to decreasing social and economic differences between EU citizens

Waste management in Łódź

Łódź has elected comprehensive solutions concerning waste management. As early as in 1994 it started the program “Selective waste collection in the City of Łódź" within which a network of so-called ecological islands was created, that is places there colour containers for solid waste - paper, glass, plastics. At present there are almost 700 of such spots in the city.

In 2003 a pilot program was initiated of bag segregation "at source", i.e. at households in selected single-family residential areas, followed by apartment buildings in 2004. The segregation applied to valuable materials and bio-degradable waste. Such segregation method proved more effective than the waste collection in containers located on "ecological islands“. The pilot program made it possible to develop a system of municipal waste selection in the whole city. Additionally, a special promotional and information campaign was launched on waste segregation. In effect, here has been a gradual increase in quantities of segregated waste and improved fraction purity.

In 2004 there was the beginning of the "Plan for Waste Management for the City of Łódź - PGO-Łódź" that provided for goals and direct ions of operations in waste management by 2014, including the key goal - reduction of the quantities of generated waste and implementation of modern recovery technologies. Stress was put on development of selective waste collection and modern infrastructure to dispose of municipal waste with the use of modern technologies and logistics solutions. Since 1.01.2007, in compliance with the new "Regulations concerning maintenance of cleanness and order in the City of Łódź", a duty has been imposed to segregate waste “at source" on owner of properties. At the same time, the city organised an information and educational campaign promoting selective waste collection, financed with the EU Cohesion Fund under the project “Municipal waste management in Łódź". In order to reach various groups of inhabitants, educational operations were performed with various marketing techniques. Presentations were organised at schools, contests, open air events, spots in media, information billboards were placed in streets, calendars were printed and even a lucky charm "Śmieciak" (Waste Lover). Information on selective waste collection is placed on a special page of the portal www.czystemiasto.lodz.pl.

Supported with EU assistance funds it was possible to provide the city with containers for biodegradable waste, stands for bags and to provide inhabitants with promotional packets containing colour bags for waste segregation and instruction leaflets.

With a view to implementing the best available waste disposal solutions and technologies has constructed a complex of neighbouring installations for sorting and handling of waste, vegetable waste compost plant and ballast storage yard.

The purpose of the complex is to reduce the quantities of stored waste, including biodegradable waste, by segregation and recuperation of materials for re-processing as well as reduction of long-distance waste transportation.

The new sorting plant has capacity of 82 500 t/year, assuring sorting of 60% of municipal waste from the city. The ballast left after segregation is stored in the nearby storage yard with capacity of 800 000 m3, meeting top standards applying to such installations. An expansion was made to the green compost plant with the use of an accelerated composting technology in bio-containers with output of 19 000 t/years. In effect, the compost process was shortened three times in relation to the traditional prism composting. The total project cost was over 19 million euro, including financial assistance from the EU Cohesion Fund of 60%. Another environment friendly investment to be implemented is construction of an installation for thermal waste treatment with energy recuperation. The high standards required of such installations and innovatory design make thermal processing installations protect the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions in relation to storage, composting or oxygen-free processing of waste; they additionally eliminate soil biological contamination, such as bacteria or viruses, soil contamination, uncontrolled biogas emissions, reduce waste volumes (including total reduction of biodegradable waste) and negative effects related to unpleasant smells of active landfills where mixed waste is deposited. This is also a valuable source of renewable energy.

An important element putting order to waste management were amendments to the “Requirements to businesses providing the services of municipal waste collection", concerning mainly designation of installations where waste is to be deposited. Disposal of waste to other locations is subject to loss of licences. Such operations help the city control the flow of municipal waste. City Vigils perform intensive inspections, imposing fines for spreading waste in public and private areas. This also applies to destroying building facades with graffiti or leaving dog droppings. Obviously, much is left to be done with respect to waste management and improved cleanliness. The city buys machines to clean and wash pavements, waste baskets and dog stations. Programs are under way addressed to inhabitants to expand selective waste collection, such as: "Used batteries", "Expired drugs" - collection at selected places in the city, "Capped months - collection of screwed caps for PET bottles", "Show out" - free of charge collection of large dimension waste, “Leaf" - collection of leaves collected by city inhabitants and disposing of them directly to compost plants, "Green" - collection of green waste from city markets, also taken to compost plants. Since 2003 there has been an information campaign “Clean up, it’s not that much ado", combined with placement of dog stations, building of a doggy park and a number of events promoting cleaning of dog droppings, such as dog exhibitions and shows. The action was awarded a prize in 2006 within the national review of the Union of Polish Cities and Towns - "Information campaigns of Polish cities and towns". There are regular Recycling Days, promoting the habit of waste segregation, particularly among children and teenagers. The city has provided for direct and fast contact with the inhabitants offering a “Green line" - a round the clock intervention telephone line where all problems and questions can be reported with respect to order and cleanliness in the city.

The efforts made to maintain order and to selectively collect waste is necessary if we are to live in a clean city. n

www.uml.lodz.pl