Whereas this technology has been commercially pioneered in 2011, it is expected that only the local processing of eggshells could lead to the creation of 30 to 50 new companies, all operating locally a Vortair in connection with a major industrial complex. The same principle could be applied to paper sludge, which due to its content of clay is landfilled as waste. The Vortair separates first water and subsequently produces two dried substances, one with organic fibers and the other with non-organic clay. Both qualify for commercial reuse and sales. With a capacity to process the waste slurry from paper recycling at the rate of 25,000 T/y, this innovation not only permits the reduction of the load on landfills, it once again increases the revenue potential without needing any recourse to the drying or pressing at high energy cost. Europe's paper recycling plants dispose of an estimated 20 million tons of paper sludge each year. This implies that this innovation has the potential to lead to 800 processing plants that could be established within the European Union alone, reducing the load on landfills generating income. Entrepreneurs where are you?
It is no surprise that the potential to reduce landfill, and increase revenue has motivated some municipal companies to take the lead and pioneer. The first municipal company in the world that decided to invest in these innovations presented by Brendon and his team is the City of Drammen in Norway. Since 2001 the citizens decided to reclaim as much resources as possible from waste and they created Lindum A/S to reduce landfill use, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce the consumption of raw materials, reduce energy consumption and increase the revenues for the town. The company has been earning about one million Euros in net profit annually. Bolstered by their first decade of success, Lindum is now partnering with AgroPlas demonstrating the potential to convert waste management into a material supply chain that renders the community more competitive, generating jobs and steering business towards sustainability. Who said there are only entrepreneurs in the private sector?
Pictures: StockXCHNG
