In Novopolotsk, a deep processing plant for VMR is planned to be built by 2025
According to the plan, an interregional solid municipal waste management complex will be built in Novopolotsk. Preparations for pre-project documentation are already underway. The project envisages the construction of a new plant with a landfill. "This facility will focus on the deep processing of waste – worn-out tires, contaminated soft and hard polymer waste, concrete and reinforced concrete construction waste – and the extraction of SMR, as well as the setup of rubber product manufacturing," explained Sergey Velyugo. It is planned that the plant will serve Novopolotsk, Polotsk, as well as Polotsky, Ushachsky, and Rossonsky districts.
It is expected that credit resources will be utilized for the construction of the landfill and funds from the State Institution "Operator of Secondary Material Resources" will be used for organizing the production process in the implementation of the project.
In addition to developing the new project, "Biomechzavod bytovykh vtorresursov" continues its core activities. The volume of collection and sorting of municipal solid waste, and consequently the procurement of SMR, is gradually increasing. From January to September 2020, SMR collection increased by 8.4% compared to the same period in 2019. The plant processed over 597 tons of contaminated PET bottles (112.5% compared to the same period last year) and produced more than 430 tons of PET flakes (112%).
PET flakes are granules used in the production of polymer products. Biomechzavod sells this material both in Belarus and abroad, primarily in the Russian Federation.
In the process of recycling PET bottles into PET flakes, flotation waste is generated, up to 80% of which is used in the production of sand-polymer products, such as paving slabs and curbs. This is a relatively new product line, launched in September last year. Crushed polymers, high-pressure and low-pressure polyethylene, and polypropylene are used in its manufacturing.
This year, 30.5 tons of contaminated polymer waste, including film, HDPE and LDPE canisters, etc., have been processed on the sand-polymer product line. In addition to sales to utility and construction companies, and private individuals, the plant uses this product for its own needs in arranging areas for garbage containers. The production volume of paving slabs and curbs in 2020 amounted to over 3 thousand sq.m and over 1.2 thousand linear meters, respectively.