Management of biodegradable waste in the municipality of Palanga

The location of the project is Palanga resort. The particularity of this town is a pronounced seasonality, and also high expectations for the appearance of the town. The aim of the project is to suggest the most environmentally and economically suitable scenario for the treatment of biodegradable waste (BW), including from municipal waste sources and sewage sludge from Palanga municipal waste water treatment plant (WWTP). The current situation is that most municipal waste goes to Dumpiu landfill. The separate collection of recyclables started in 2011. Thus, there is an urgent need to divert waste from the landfill and to move towards extracting materials and energy from the waste.

The project proposes the encouragement of separate collection of recyclables and biodegradable waste (e.g. up to 50% for paper and carton, 50% for plastic, 80% for green waste from public territories). The remaining recyclables should be extracted from the mixed waste in centralised sorting. Alternatives for municipal waste mechanical and aerobic treatment (MBT) were analysed. The remaining BW can go for aerobic treatment, applying a closed composting system with minimum environmental impact, and result in the use of compost for taking care of the green territories of Palanga resort, together with the use of SRF for incineration.

One more source of BW is WWTP sludge. About 1500 t/y of sewage sludge (dried to 80%) is formed. There is a storage facility equipped for storing 15,000 t of sludge. At the moment the storage facility is filled with about 9,000 t of sewage sludge. The results of laboratory analysis of the sludge shows that it corresponds to I and II categories according to metal concentrations, and A and B categories according to microbiological parameters [LAND 20-2005]. It is proposed to composte sewage sludge together with green waste from the public territories of the town in a closed container system. The compost thus formed could be used to take care of the green territories in the resort.
Using closed technologies for BW aerobic treatment is still a novelty in Lithuania.

Expected outcome

Improvement of waste management system: Diversion from landfill of approx. 8,000 t/y of municipal waste, incl. 4,300 t/y of BW. Proper management of 2,500 t/y of sewage sludge and 1,300 t/y of green waste from public territories. Production of approx. 1,900 t/y of compost to be used for the fertilisation of green territories in Palanga resort and/or for the cultivation of high-energy plants.

The pilot project is looking for financing sources in order to be implemented.

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