Slovakia’s EkoPellets increases recovery of non-hazardous, biodegradable waste

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Our company has a state-of-the-art technology line that meets all technical standards and requirements set by EU legislation. Implementation of the project increased the capacity for waste recovery by 1 000 tonnes per year and increased the amount of recovered waste. We continue to streamline our production process by investing in technologies that gradually increase our waste recovery capacity.Štefan Ježík, M. Eng., Executive Manager, EkoPelletsThe upgraded system has streamlined operations at EkoPellets and increased its efficiency in processing both dry and wet sawdust. The new equipment includes technology to ensure its raw materials are homogenous. At the same time handling and transportation costs have been reduced.From manual to automaticThe company’s entire preparation of raw material is now automatic, done with minimal staff intervention. Previously, employees operated the sawdust processing line manually, processing approximately 1 000-1 500 kg of raw material per hour.The new feedstock processing technology allows for the reception and processing of all kinds of dry sawdust and raw material from various sawdust producers, regardless of possible contamination, fraction and bark content.While the company had planned to increase the amount of recovered non-hazardous waste to 1 300 tonnes per year, today the new processing line is able to recover over 5 656 tonnes of waste per year. Overall, EkoPellets increased its waste recovery capacity by 1 000 tonnes per year.Reducing environmental impactThe company’s increased capacity for processing and converting sawdust into pellets and briquettes for heating has reduced pressure on both regional sawdust producers and local landfills.EkoPellets is in Kráľova Lehota, a Slovak municipality in the Žilina region in the northern part of the country. It produces over 11 000 tonnes of wooden pellets, briquettes and wood chips per year. The company predominantly sells its products through distributors in Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Hungary.Total investment and EU fundingTotal investment for the project “CLSPP-MSS – Combined line for sawdust processing by pressing process - modernization of sawdust supply” is EUR 324 000, with the EU’s Cohesion Fund contributing EUR 178 200 through the “Quality of Environment” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “Sustainable use of natural resources through development of environmental infrastructure”.