Mioveni Composting Project Since 2016, this composting project has had an active role in transforming waste to resource in Mioveni. In collaboration with Asociaţia pentru o Apă Curată (director: prof. eng. econ. Neculae Bâldea, Ph.D.) and Iridex Group Plastic (director: prof. Valentin Feodorov), the project was successfully implemented by SC Servicii Edilitare pentru Comunitate Mioveni SRL (director: econ. Nicolae Tudose, Ph.D.), project manager: eng. Eusebiu Safta, Ph.D.s. This initiative represents a solution for recovering nutrients from the sewage sludge, as well as for avoiding landfilling costs for sludge and garden waste. A membrane technology ensures optimum conditions for speeding the composting process, high temperature to destroy pathogens, production of good quality compost. Park waste is shredded and mixed with sludge in a certain proportion. The process is partly automated. In the first phase, the technology was validated and the resulting compost was applied on local green public lands. The composting process implies a sludge and park waste mixture to optimize C:N ratio, as well as a semipermeable membrane, temperature control and forced aeration.
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In the second phase, trial plots were set up to study the effect of the compost on different crops. This ecosystem generates compost for flowers, vegetables etc. — product which can be bought in the specialized market. The total investment for the pilot project was approximately 150,000 EUR. The main evidence of success; achievements: (i) 24.000 EUR are saved annually, taking the landfilling costs for sludge into consideration; (ii) large amounts of biowaste are no longer landfilled – instead, they are returned to green areas; (iii) storage time on the platform is reduced / less storage capacity is needed using the membrane technology; (iv) high quality compost (tested for pathogens and pollutants) is brought to the local market; (v) additional revenues are generated by compost commercialization; (vi) the project has been generating potential for training, knowledge transfer and creating new “green jobs”. Mioveni Composting Project significantly contributes to ensuring a more sustainable and circular future with direct impact on the local agriculture. Municipalities operating wastewater treatment plants can follow and replicate this good practice, including advanced biological treatment, should park waste be available.