Ukraine reconstruction is recycling’s new frontier

Rebuilding waste management infrastructure in Ukraine offers huge opportunity for recycling and recyclers, German green tech suppliers observed after a recent visit to the war-torn country.

According to Andre Berlage, md of Eggersmann Group, one of the 15 tech providers in a delegation led by Germany’s environment ministry, Ukraine can strengthen its economy in the short term through modern waste treatment. ‘The way the Ukrainians are dealing with the devastation caused by the war is impressive,’ says Berlage.

‘Essential projects such as hospitals are being completed in a very short space of time. Destroyed infrastructure is already being replaced, wherever possible, with modern alternatives.’

This is often driven by strategic considerations. For example, decentralised photovoltaic systems are more difficult to take out and can be rebuilt more quickly than a single large power station.

Organic waste  

Ukraine’s high energy demand is one of the reasons Eggersmann Group joined the delegation: ‘We have decades of experience in generating energy from waste,’ says Berlage. ‘Our expertise encompasses not only the sustainable production of biogas from organic waste but also the production of refuse-derived fuels from municipal solid waste or single-material waste streams such as light packaging or waste wood.’

War experience 

Thanks to its strong agricultural focus, Ukraine has great potential for biogas production from bio-waste. Eggersmann not only builds such plants all over the world but also operates them in East Westphalia in Germany. The biogas can be upgraded to biomethane, replacing natural gas in the public grid – as is the case at the Eggersmann site in Nieheim.

The processing of waste into substitute fuel also offers a wide range of opportunities to reduce the use of costly fossil fuels in industry. Eggersmann built such a plant to supply cement production following the defeat of the IS terrorist organisation in Iraq.

Short- and long-term

During the visit, Berlage was also looking at solutions for the mobile processing of building rubble. ‘In wartime, there is a shortage economy. If in Germany, where we already use mobile crushers to turn construction waste into substitute building materials for roads or to produce fuel from waste wood, then such solutions are naturally even more important for Ukraine.

Buildings lie in ruins; roads are destroyed – we could already be making a real contribution here every day with our machinery. Even if it’s just by separating out the metals that are valuable for the war effort.’

Funding opens doors 

For such solutions to become a reality, however, the right contacts and appropriate funding are required. The federal environment minister’s visit has created the necessary framework for this.

‘We are planning to make an active contribution to the reconstruction of Ukraine with our solutions,’ says Berlage. ‘The government has provided us with targeted support in establishing the relevant contacts. This will simplify our work considerably.’

At the same time, Eggersmann’s md highlights the group’s experience in reconstruction: ‘We are familiar with crisis and post-war zones. In addition to projects in Iraq, we were also involved, for example, in rebuilding waste management infrastructure following the break-up of Yugoslavia and the ensuing wars in the region.’