Industrial plant with combined anaerobic/aerobic treatment of OFMSW for the production of biomethane and compost – Lecce

The plant produces biomethane for the transport sector and compost for agricultural use in compliance with European and national regulations (EU regulation EN:13432 and the new European fertilizer regulation 2019/1009).

The project will include two process lines:

• An aerobic-anaerobic treatment section for the Organic Fraction of the Municipal Solid Waste (OFMSW) that will recover high-quality compost and biomethane;
• A wastewater and leachate treatment section that will reduce sludge to be disposed and recover clarified water.

The aerobic-anaerobic process line provides a waste treatment capacity equal to 50.000 t/year, 40.000 t/y of OFMSW, and 10.000 t/y of green waste. The section consists of:

a) A reception bunker followed by mechanical pre-treatment of incoming waste;
b) An anaerobic digestion section, where biomass undergoes a biochemical conversion producing biogas and a residual liquid (digestate);
c) A digestate mechanical dewatering section, with subsequent flocculation and flotation treatment followed by a leachate treatment plant;
d) A composting section for the aerobic stabilization of the solid digestate, thus obtaining a quality compost;
e) An up-grading unit of the biogas produced by anaerobic digestion for bio-methane production.

The WWTP will have a daily treatment capacity of 100 m³/day and includes a MBR (Membrane Bioreactor) treatment section for the oxidation of suspended biomass and the removal of ammonia nitrogen, followed by two units of ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis to ensure a high-quality output. The concentrate is sent to an evaporator for a further volumetric reduction and it will be shipped to duly authorized third-party plants.
Last but not least, an exhausted air treatment system (scrubber, biofilter, and bag filters); will ensure gaseous-effluent compliance with EU and local regulations.