Diagram of BSR’s biogas closed circuit
Berlin waste management company Berliner Stadtreinigungsbetriebe (SR) has developed a closed circuit system that generates biomethane from Berliners’ household garbage and returns it via biomethane and compost. 60,000 tons of biowaste are generated per annum, in the German capital, with a large amount of it being able to be recycled.
The biomethane, generated by BSR’s own biogas plant, is used to fuel the company’s fleet of 150 natural gas powered Mercedes-Benz Econic refuse vehicles at BSR fueling stations in Marzahn, Prenzlauer Berg and Wilmersdor. Effectively, this means approximately half of Berlin’s total waste is collected by carbon-neutral trucks.
The biogas plant, located in Spandau-Ruhleben, has the potential to produce up to 4.426 million m3 of biomethane, delivering annual savings of 2.5 million liters of diesel fuel and 12,200 tonnes of CO2 emissions (6,200 diesel substitution and 6,000 recycling).
BSR’s drive for sustainable and environmentally responsible operations has been recognised in the Environment category of Germany’s “A Place of Excellence in the Land of Ideas” contest.
(Source: BSR)
