In 2021 they were produced over 32 thousand tons of biomethane generated by 421 tons of organic waste collected in seven catering outlets; 23 thousand liters of hydrogenated biofuel obtained from the collection of 20 tons of used vegetable oils in 62 catering establishments, while in 2022 there were 245 collection points for used vegetable oils for an estimated recovery of 100 tons. It is estimated that, by the end of the year, approximately 100 tonnes of waste oil will be collected, which will be entirely used for the production of biofuel. While for the recovery of organic waste, the activity will continue throughout 2022 in the structures of the catering company currently involved.
They are the main results of the collaboration between Camst group – catering and facility services company – e Hera Group who have been collaborating since September 2020 to promote theThe circular economy , sustainability, in particular with projects aimed at producing biofuels from organic waste and used cooking oils, collected in the Camst group catering outlets also in the Emilia-Romagna area.
More than 32 cubic meters of biomethane produced in one year
There are seven Camst group catering outlets – four in Bologna, one in Castenaso, one in Zola Predosa and one in Vignola – involved in the pilot project for the production of biofuel. The organic waste collected over the course of 2021 in the Camst group premises was transferred to the biomethane production plant in Sant'Agata Bolognese, a facility of the subsidiary Herambiente.
From the 421 tons of waste collected, over 32 cubic meters of biomethane were produced in one year – a 100% renewable fuel with significantly lower environmental impacts than fossil fuels -, a quantity that would allow 23 medium-sized cars to travel approximately 460 km in a year (considering an average distance of 20 km/year). With this production Camst group has made it possible to avoid the consumption of 25 tons of oil equivalent and the emission of almost 60 tons of carbon dioxide, equal to the absorption generated by about 3.000 medium-sized trees.
The used oil transformed into 23 liters of hydrogenated biofuel
As far as the waste cooking oils, from the 62 Camst group catering outlets in the provinces of Modena (3), Bologna (41), Ravenna (12), Rimini (1) and Forlì-Cesena (5), around 2021 tons of oil were collected in 20 which are been transformed into almost 23 liters of hydrogenated biofuel thanks to the partnership signed by Hera with Eni. In this way, the catering company has contributed to an annual saving of 19 tonnes of oil equivalent, as well as 63 tonnes of carbon dioxide, equal to the absorption generated by around 3.150 medium-sized trees.
Further circular economy actions
The collaboration still aims to grow and involve other areas. For example, with Hera Comm, the electricity and gas sales company of the Bologna-based multiutility, some Camst group catering outlets are installing charging stations for electric vehicles. Together with Aliplast, a Hera Group company leader in the plastics recyclinginstead, a project was launched to valorise the plastic films used to pack goods in some Camst group warehouses.
