SITA CZ a.s.

Prague, 26 October 2006

At the end of October, TOMA put into operation the advanced plant for treatment of biologically degradable wastes. The plant is located in the area of the wastewater treatment plant in Otrokovice. Constructions costs were 53 million Kč. The advanced installation is unique not only in the region, but also in the Czech Republic.

The installation is the outcome of an own research made by TOMA. SITA CZ is heavily involved in the project. It organises the logistics: collection and transport of bio-degradable wastes to TOMA's technology line. The both companies co-operated in the preparation of the project. TOMA's representatives believe that the expertise of SITA CZ was really valuable when applying for subsidies.

The plant consists of three stages. In the first stage, the bio-degradable wastes are subject to hydrolysis. Input materials include waste skin, protein chippings, bones, waste fat, fish sperm-oil, or bio-degradable municipal wastes. The author of the technology Zdeněk Řičica explains: "The plant treats remains of skin or bones from preserving industries. Such wastes cannot be placed on landfills and need to be incinerated in a carcass disposal plant. Bones contain however much natural phosphorus and area suitable material for production of many other products incl. bone crushings that is used as a fertilizer or foodstuff." The technology is protected with four utility designs. In addition to the bone crushings, it produces many hydrolysates that are used for the production of protein components in livestock food, material for textile and tannery agents, basic base for the production of fertilisers, concrete and mortar water reducers or as a catcher of free formaldehyde in production of chipboards.

In the second stage of the process, the wastes than cannot be used in the first stage are treated under mezophilic conditions. The output product is an anaerobic stabilised sludge and bio-gas that is burnt in a co-generation unit where heat and electricity are generated. The sludge is treated in the third stage where it is composted with vegetation wastes.

Financing

Several sources were combined for the construction of the plant.
As several utility designs are used in the first stage of the plant, 46% of eligible costs (being 31.5 million Kč) were provided from the operational programme Industry and Business – Innovations.
Because the plant produces and uses bio-gas and produces compost, 37% of the costs for the other two stages were financed from the programme Industry and Business - Renewable Sources of Energy. The total costs of the two stages were 21.5 million Kč.

According to the standpoint prepared by Tomáš Ba»a University in Zlín, the technology the main author of which is Zdeněk Řičica can become a model for comprehensive solutions to the biologically degradable wastes in Europe.