About waste management and waste incineration in Vienna

The growing population, urbanization and the unsustainable consumption habits of people has been causing an increasing pressure on the waste management systems in cities, leading to an even greater environmental challenge. How does a City like Vienna manages its waste? Keep reading!

Before starting here are some interesting facts about Vienna

  • It has wide range of waste prevention measures.
  • Vienna exceeds the EU target of a 60% recycling rate by 2030. 
  • By 2050, 100% of Vienna’s non-avoidable waste will be recycled. 
  • Vienna’s waste management system will achieve net zero by 2040. 
  •  Food waste will be cut by 50% by 2030 and reduced to a permanent minimum by 2050.

Vienna has been on the top of the list as  one of the most livable cities in the world by magazines such as The Economist, considering the categories of urban planning, cleanliness, recycling and organic waste management. 

This capital city has a wide range of prevention and management measures when it comes to waste. One of them is the waste incinerator Spitellau. Before visiting it and diving into my research, I wasn’t aware of how burning trash in a environmentally-friendly way can heat more than 60,000 local households in Vienna in a year!

How does Spittelau work? 

In simple words, this process involves burning solid waste in a controlled environment, similar to an oven, to manage and reduce waste effectively. This helps to reduce trash’s weight and volume. But how does look like in action? Basically, a crane transports the waste into the incinerators for thermal recycling. The burning process creates hot fumes that turn water into steam, which powers a turbine to generate electricity. 

Wien Energie Open Air 2018 in der Wien Energie-Welt Spittelau; © Wien Energie/FOTObyHOFER/Christian Hofer, 30.6.2018

During my visit in the facility, it was fascinating to see how the MA48 orange trucks come in and out of the facility and knowing that the organic waste from the city’s bins was being transformed into valuable energy. In addition to the energy generated, 6,000 tonnes of scrap iron and 60,000 tonnes of clinker, ash and filter cake are produced annually. The scrap iron is recycled into new metal products, clinker is used in cement production, and ash and filter cake are repurposed in construction and waste treatment, supporting a circular economy and reducing environmental impact.

All of this happens within a building redesigned in 1992 by the eco-conscious artist and architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser. it stands out for both its eye-catching exterior and its essential function for the city. The goal of the architect was to create a “true memorial for a more beautiful world without waste, transforming the plant into an iconic and eco-friendly structure distinct from the classical Viennese  architecture. The facility is managed and operated by  Wien Energie , which oversees its operations and ensures the efficient processing of waste and recovery of valuable byproducts.

Beyond waste incineration

Vienna’s waste management system is integral to its circular economy, turning unavoidable waste into valuable secondary raw materials. With state-of-the-art facilities, it supports the city’s goal of net zero emissions. Importantly, “Vienna’s waste management system saves more CO2 than it emits.”

Furthermore, Stadt Wien, has a comprehensive program as they want to achieve net zero goal by 2040. Smart -climate- city strategy of the city is designed as a framework for guiding Vienna’s development over the coming decades, emphasizing climate action, resource conservation, and innovation to ensure a high quality of life for all residents.

The city of Vienna also produces compost, which they call the “Guter Grund”. The Municipal Department 48 – Waste Management, Street Cleaning and Vehicle Fleet (MA 48) makes it from the organic waste collected in the city’s waste bins. Everyday up to 200 trucks bring around 700 tonnes of trash into the facility daily which adds up to around 250,000 tonnes of trash annually!

When waste is treated as a commodity that can be bought and sold, and that it becomes an efficient source of energy. The plant itself employs the most efficient technologies and processes to minimize environmental impact and maximize energy recovery.

This article is part of Dilara’s Summer of Impact. Read more about her experience in this article about The Week!  

 

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