Selective Door-to-Door Waste Collection in Maia, Portugal
A pioneering and innovative project in Portugal, aimed at the introduction of PAYT (Pay-As-You-Throw) focus on door-to-door collection, segregated into 4 categories (mixed, paper and paperboard, plastics and metal, glass) and collection from recycling points and moloks.
- 8 years Contract
- 33% saved Cost of fuel
This is a pioneering and innovative project in Portugal, aimed at the introduction of PAYT (Pay-As-You-Throw). It includes the supply of domestic recycling points (4 containers per home, rubbish collection points, shops, schools and industrial premises), fitted with RFID (Radio Frequency Identification). Waste collection is carried out with vehicles powered by compressed natural gas (CNG) and with the capacity for reading and registering RFIDs.
The project provides the following benefits:
- Reduction in fuel consumption through optimisation of hydraulic systems in the equipment used, and the fitting of automatic gearboxes in the chassis.
- Low noise emitting equipment.
- Acceptance of a “green purchases” policy.
- ISO 9001, 14001 and OHSAS 18001 certification.
The use of CNG-powered collection vehicles results in the following environmental advantages:
- Similar performance to diesel vehicles.
- Reduced noise levels: functioning of the engine in an Otto cycle, with a lower compression ratio than diesel engines, meaning that sparking and ignition causes less noise (-7dB approx.).
- The engine uses no lead.
- Reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions:
- Engine technology allows for improved treatment of post-combustion gases, thereby reducing gas emissions.
- Use of CNG avoids emissions of particles and ash and of sulphurous compounds, resulting in lower emissions of carbon dioxide. Methane is the main component.
- CNG has a lower relative density than air, thus delaying gas accumulation in restricted spaces.
- Lower maintenance costs:
- The use of CNG increases the useful life of equipment.
- Lubricating oils remain cleaner for longer, due to the absence of carbon deposits.
- CNG has a lower risk of explosion, and is non-corrosive, meaning that cylinder life is extended.
- The overall solution is cheaper, the cost of fuel being 33% less than that of diesel, and thus increased investment costs are compensated (+29% compared to diesel vehicles).
