Energie AG’s Waste Management Segment has been comprehensively certified in accordance with the internationally recognised EMAS (Eco Management and Audit Scheme) at all 24 sites. Investing in the highest technical standards and in environmental and climate protection is one of the foundation stones of the Waste Management Segment’s business activity.
Energie AG Oberösterreich Umwelt Service GmbH’s Environmental Statement 2018 received the EMAS Award for the best environmental team and sustainable environmental management.
When providing waste management services, care is taken to ensure that resources are conserved as much as possible. Key plans in this area include reducing CO2 emissions with a modern fleet of trucks, rolling out e-business (automating commercial processes), increasing energy efficiency and decreasing overall energy consumption. In addition, the slag remaining after waste incineration is recycled at the Wels plant. In a multi-stage mechanical separation process, iron and other content remaining in the slag after incineration is removed. This not only has the advantage of separating these resources (aluminium, copper, brass and stainless steels), recycling them and reintroducing them to the metal processing cycle; there is also additional savings potential in terms of CO2 emissions in comparison to producing these resources from scratch. Furthermore, the landfill volumes at Wels are reduced through the yearly recycling of metals. As a result, it is not necessary to resort to other landfills, saving long lorry journeys and fuel.
Biomonitoring, a scientifically-based control method, is used to track pollutant emissions at the Wels waste incineration plant. The effects of the thermal treatment plant’s operation on the environment are measured continuously at several fixed points in and around the site.
In terms of energy efficiency in the Waste Management Segment, we pay particular attention to the energetic effectiveness of the grate firing and circulating fluidised-bed waste incineration plants. The efficiency criteria under Directive 2008/98/EC are assessed on an annual basis in this area. Efficient electricity conversion and/or heat extraction are crucial factors in fulfilling these criteria. Infrastructure including connections to drinking water and sewer systems is ensured at all locations. As far as technically possible, process water, rain water or seepage is used instead of potable water in the production plants.
The Waste Management Segment provides water supply and wastewater disposal lines in Austria and Slovenia, operating as a water supplier across a number of regions. The customers that use these services are cities and local authorities. Only the pipelines are owned by the Segment, whereas distribution grids are not. There is no water loss from the pipelines, with the differences between the measuring points at wells or tanks and water meter chambers at the customer’s end falling within the range of the water meters’ measurement tolerances. Energie AG only has limited influence over unaccounted for water in the distribution grids of the local authorities we serve, as the infrastructure in these areas is owned by the municipalities, which as a result have the power to decide on any measures (upgrades, investments, etc.)
Energie AG provides support and advisory services to the local authorities as part of our service, carrying out monitoring, measurement and broad-based analysis, as well as formulating proposed measures for decision-makers to reduce water losses.