ZGO Sorting Facility

Differences and similarities between countries

We come from different countries: Poland, Italy and Germany. In this article we are going to present things that differ and also those that are similar within our sorting systems of our countries. ZGO (located in Poland) is a modern facility which deals with collecting and processing communal waste in biological and mechanical ways.
 

In all of our countries, special types of garbage, such as electronics or furniture are brought to facilities like ZGO. Also in all countries, paper is collected separately. The garbage bin for the mixed waste is black as well.
In Poland people take their excess rubbish to places like ZGO. They bring all kinds of waste. PSZOK (point of selective waste collectment) is the first step of processing the rubbish. The waste is divided preliminary into around 20 types. Trucks that carry sorted rubbish (taken from citizens) leave the containers filled with it at ZGO, where it is cleaned and sorted into even more types. For example, just plastics are separated by types and colours. In summary, ZGO sorts rubbish in more than 40 types.
 

In Italy and Germany the disposal process is very similar. Everything begins with the rubbish collection from houses. Then it is brought to the sorting facilities, where the management process will begin. The first step is separating the materials to reduce humidity and volume in a biological-mechanical treatment. The majority of garbage is burnt in incenerators but a minor part is recuperated for the realization of recycled materials such as paper, plastics, grass and metals.
 

In Poland all of mixed waste goes to a landfill, but in Germany and Italy the mixed waste is first sorted and then burned or brought to a landfill. German households separate glass into different colours before the comunal waste is taken to further recycling. In Poland and Italy  glass is sorted only in the facilities, not at home.
 

The biggest part of bio-waste in Germany is used to produce energy, similar to the northern part of Italy. No difference in Poland, ZGO produces bio energy (because of methane fermentation) and electricity from bio-waste only. It contains almost clear methane (CH4) and it is used to fuel the facility itself. The excess energy is given to citizens in the area nearby. Over 500 households take profits ecause of eco-friendly waste processing.

Written by

Teodora Vaduva

Fabiana Vetturini

Jan Trąbka
Lina Jordan

Matilde Magliaro

Robin Fischer