Technologies/systems for different manure and organic waste treatment options MSW FACILITIES OF COMBINED BIOLOGICAL TREATMENT: ANAEROBIC DIGESTION PLUS COMPOSTING

EU Landfill Directive (1999/31/EC) requires the gradual reduction of biodegradable municipal waste going to landfills. In this context, three mechanical-biological treatments (MBT) plants were designed and installed progressively in Barcelona Metropolitan Area (Catalonia, NE Spain) during 2000s. These facilities were intended to solve the problem of municipal wastes generated in this region (Table 1), especially to stabilise OM (organic matter) from MSW (municipal solid waste). Near to 600.000 tn/year of OF (organic fraction) is estimated to be produced in Barcelona Metropolitan Area but currently, a rough fourth part of it is separately collected (SC) to be biologically treated. However, it is worth noting that for both cases collection of plastic, glass and, paper and cardboard is provided. This means that most of the OF contained in MSW must be mechanically selected in the treatment plants. In general, the low recovered OF is explained by the low participation of the population in source sorted collection policies of OF, despite the application of the current legislation in Catalonia (Law 6/93 and Law 9/2008 on waste regulation), which obliges to sorted this fraction at source.