Circular

In a circular economy, waste no longer exists.

We see waste as raw materials and strive to reuse them. If new raw materials are still needed, they are sustainably produced and can be reused. The water boards have agreed in a so-called Raw Materials Agreement to commit to circular operations. By 2030, the water boards want to be 50% circular already.

HHNK is also working hard for this. For example in the field of water. The dry periods of recent years made it clear that fresh water is less available. For us this was reason to look for alternative sources of fresh water. Purified wastewater is an example of this. By processing wastewater in the right way, it can be used to irrigate agricultural land and as cooling and process water in industry. This better protects the fresh water sources of the drinking water company.

Besides water, HHNK also wants to reuse other raw materials. For example, we recover cellulose and phosphate from wastewater for reuse in building materials and fertilizer. Dredging sludge from our waterways is dried and used to reinforce dikes. Industrial waste from our offices and bulky waste from our shipyards and sewage treatment plants are separated as much as possible and offered to waste processing firm Suez for recycling. Plant residues along ditch banks are partly used for soil improvement and, as an experiment, processed into paper for our staff magazine.

Screenings on fine screen rwzi Beemster