MEP Bas Eickhout visits Dutch anaerobic digester

Greenmills concept for maximum output from biowaste

On Thursday 25 June, at the invitation of the Dutch Waste Management Association, MEP Bas Eickhout (Greens/EFA) visited the Orgaworld anaerobic digestion and waste water treatment plant under construction on the Greenmills complex in the port of Amsterdam. Eickhout was impressed: ‘The mandatory separate collection of vegetable, garden and fruit (VGF) waste in the Netherlands has led to a modernisation of the waste sector.Waste that used to be landfilled has been given a new life.It is important that this innovation quickly takes root across all Europe and a biowaste directive is a good instrument to achieve that.’The European Parliament and the waste sector propose legislation for the separate collection and processing of biowaste.

The Orgaworld facility is free standing, but located close to several other companies, including a tank storage facility, a biodiesel plant and a fat refining plant. The Greenmills complex is about integrating process technologies and industrial processes, including the efficient exchange, recycling and reuse of residual products and raw materials. The heat generated by the anaerobic digestion of VGF waste is used by the fat refining plant, the tank storage facility, the sludge drying process and a bioethanol plant yet to be built. The glycerine released in the production of biodiesel is fed back into the anaerobic digester. In addition, Orgaworld dries the sludge from the waste water treatment plant to produce organic fertiliser pellets.

Dick Hoogendoorn, director of the Dutch Waste Management Association: ‘The companies collaborating in Greenmills have made impressive steps to maximise recycling of raw materials from biowaste and other waste materials.’

Henk Kaskens, chief executive of Orgaworld: 'We chose this strategic site near the water and close to other industries because of the great synergy advantages to be gained here. We enjoy excellent cooperation in the field of heat recycling, logistics and residual waste treatment. The philosophy underlying this plan fits in perfectly with Orgaworld’s motto: “closing recycling loops”.’

From left to right on the photo:

Dick Hoogendoorn (Director, Dutch Waste Management Association), Bas Eickhout (MEP, Greens/EFA), Henk Kaskens (CEO Orgaworld) and Harald Koehorst (Production Manager, Orgaworld).