The Ecoparc de Barcelona is an ambitious environmental facility which not only treats solid waste from the metropolitan area but aims to reuse and recycle elements through a range of techniques, such as composting and methanization.

 

Metropolitan Barcelona produces 1.6 million tonnes of solid waste (excluding industrial waste) annually. The idea for the Ecopark emerged in 1998, following the adoption of the Metropolitan Municipal Waste Management Programme (PMGRM). The main objective was a large-scale transition from mere treatment of solid waste to a system which allowed for the recovery of materials and energy

resources and the reduction of landfill waste.

 

Built between 1999-2001 at a cost of €48 million, Ecopark de Barcelona is a waste sorting and biotreatment plant for Barcelona and neighbouring towns. The plant’s main aims are to limit the environmental impact of solid waste treatment; improve plant health and safety conditions; increase production of biogas; increase the production of compost; minimize factory discharges (waste we are unable to make use of); minimize the percentage of organic matter in factory discharges; recover the maximum amount of recyclable material

possible¹. Ecoparc de Barcelona treats two kinds of waste: organic waste from selective collection and undifferentiated waste (residual waste). From the former biogas (methane and carbon dioxide) is produced, which is then used to generate electricity. From the latter recyclable materials (e.g. paper and glass) and organic matter (used to make compost) are extracted. Steam is also sold to a local cooling and heating network.

 

Ecoparc de Barcelona treats approximately 12% of solid waste produced in the metropolitan area. From the c. 350,000 tonnes of solid waste treated per year, it produces 160,000 MWh per year. Around 7.6 tonnes of steam sold per year to urban heating and cooling network².