Sustainability
Report 2020
Meny
Pneumatic waste collection in
shown to halve lifecycle emissions
A 2020 thesis investigating the Envac automated waste collection systems in Sundbyberg showed that they have around half the lifecycle annual CO2 emissions per household compared with conventional waste containers.
The master thesis by Sara Bernhardtz, calculated the lifecycle CO2 emissions per household of a variety of waste collection systems – from construction materials to throughout operation. It concluded that stationary waste collection systems generated around 6 kg CO2 per household each year, compared with conventional waste containers of around 11.5 kg CO2.
There are currently four municipal systems in operation in Sundbyberg serving around 6,500 households, or 40% of the total number of households in the municipality. Systems in Ursvik and Hallonbergen have the potential to serve more households, and another three systems are planned in the coming years that will serve up to 14,000 additional households.
“In the early 2000s, we took a strategic decision in Sundbyberg to promote automated waste collection systems”
“The decision was based on a study performed by a third-party consultancy showing that such waste collection systems reduce heavy traffic in residential neighbourhoods, which reduces local air pollution, creates better working conditions and promotes a better living environment for residents.”
The thesis also highlighted the importance of the construction phase in the lifecycle CO2 footprint of the various waste collection systems. By incorporating recycled materials into automated waste collection systems, the lifecycle emissions could be halved to around 3 kg CO2 per household each year.
“We haven’t used recycled materials in our stationary waste collection systems yet in Sundbyberg,” says Chmielewski. “However, we are considering the incorporation of recycled materials in a new system we are planning in Rissne – to reduce the amount of concrete we use, which would decrease the lifecycle footprint of the entire project.”
Envac AB
Fleminggatan 7, 3tr
SE-112 26 Stockholm, Sweden
Tel: +46 8 785 00 10
Corporate web site:
www.envacgroup.com