Ten Best Waste Projects in KPMG Top 100 Infrastructure List
Image Credit: Shutterstock/ Curioso 03 July 2012 The Edinburgh Food Waste food waste project has been named as one of 10 best waste projects globally in the KPMG Infrastructure 100 - a league table showcasing 100 of the most innovative infrastructure projects from around the world which included a number of waste to energy projects. KPMG said that the Infrastructure 100: World Cities Edition Report covers 10 project categories, including Waste Management. According to KPMG - a global network of professional firms providing audit, tax and advisory services - in making the final selection five regional judging panels from around the world assessed hundreds of submissions on criteria ranging from feasibility, social impact, technical and financial complexity, innovation and impact on society. The overall winner for the Waste Management category was Singapore's Deep Tunnel Sewerage System, Kranji to Changi. North America continues to dominate top infrastructure development with 25 projects named among the most innovative ventures, closely followed by Asia-Pacific with 20, Europe and the Middle-East with 17 each, South America on 15 and Africa with 6. Nations from emerging markets also continue to feature extensively within the list. "The league table shows that many of the world class infrastructure projects are located in North American and Asia - these regions have continued to increase their efficiency in getting projects off the ground," explained Richard Threlfall, KPMG's UK head of infrastructure, building and construction. UK 'Punching above its weight According to Richard Threlfall, KPMG's UK head of infrastructure, building and construction, despite a lack of private finance and dwindling construction projects, with seven UK projects in the top 100 "the UK still punches way above its geographic and economic weight with seven of the 100 most important projects in the world across a range of sectors." However, he also warned that: "We need to act now to develop private investment in infrastructure. This will not only to help kick start the UK economy but also to secure funding to ensure that our future infrastructure projects continue to be innovative." Threlfall explained that hese pioneering projects lie at the heart of solving the challenges faced by the country, from regenerating neighbourhoods to building education and health facilities fit for this century. "The Government needs to outline a clear strategic direction if it wants to remain competitive on an international level," concluded Threlfall. Don't miss the July/August issue of Waste Management World for for an in depth feature looking at the waste catagory of the awards. Subscribe HERE KPMG's Top 10 Waste Infrastructure Projects Askar Waste to Energy PPP Location: Kingdom of Bahrain What KPMG had to say: In the Kingdom of Bahrain has the potential to be a pathfinder for both the country and the region. As a Public Private Partnership (PPP), the US$480 million facility is being commercially financed amidst a global debt crisis with uncertainty created by the Arab Spring and sporadic civil unrest. The need for the project is great as it aims to tackle the Kingdom's growing problem with waste management by providing capacity to treat 390,000 tonnes of domestic waste per year from Manama, the country's capital and largest city. In addition, the facility - located in the village of Askar on the south eastern coast - will generate 25 MW of power fed into the grid. Yas Island Waste Management System Location: United Arab Emirates What KPMG had to say: The Yas Island Waste Management System in Abu Dhabi is set to revolutionize the country's recycling industry with its state-of-the-art vacuum waste management system. The system is capable of handling 40 tones of rubbish from 43 collection points transported through 5.3 kilometers of pipelines at speeds up to 75 kilometers per hour. The scheme will serve Abu Dhabi's popular tourist destination which includes the artificial island's famous Formula One racetrack, nearby Ferrari World, the marina and seven hotels. The system will reduce the need for garbage trucks by as much as 90%, thus reducing traffic on the roads and cutting CO2 emissions. Deep Tunnel Sewerage System Location: Singapore What KPMG had to say: The Deep Tunnel Sewerage System in Singapore has been under construction since 2000 and is scheduled for completion in 2020. The massive scheme has been designed to address all of the city-state's long-term needs for used water collection, treatment, reclamation and disposal. The award-winning system works entirely by gravity, thus eliminating the need for pumping stations and the risks of used water overflows as well. Gorai Dumping Ground Scientific Closure Location: India What KPMG had to say: Waste management in India is big business and of vital importance for a heavily populated country. In the city of Mumbai, where the population is reaching 14 million, there is an urgent need to find new ways of managing waste where previously it has struggled. Judges were impressed with the initiative being used in the Gorai Dumping Ground Scientific Closure to address a common challenge in the region. The unappealing but essential project is a PPP to renovate an area of Mumbai which had been used as a major dumping ground for waste. The site spans 19.6 hectares and has been operational since 1972. The closure has had a major social impact as the dump was located next to residential areas, posing health risks and contaminating local water supplies. Closure of the site in 2009 involved reforming the existing heap and sealing it off with impermeable surfaces. There are now plans to install a power plant at the site which will run on methane gas generated by the decomposing rubbish. Bordo Poniente Waste to Energy Location: Mexico What KPMG had to say: In December 2011, Mexico City closed the Bordo Poniente dump, one of the world's largest waste sites. Since 1994, it is estimated that 79 million tones of garbage were dumped in the landfill. Since its closure, a sizable waste to energy scheme has been developed to capture the methane gas produced by the landfill, which will be used to power as many as 35,000 homes when complete. Bio-Cancun Project Location: Mexico What KPMG had to say: The Bio-Cancun Project on the Yucatán Peninsula is another waste to energy scheme developed through international cooperation which facilitates the transfer of technology. A combined effort in 2009 between the Canadian and Mexican governments, the project aims to divert organic matter headed for landfill sites in Cancun to a bio-digester for treatment. By-products of the scheme include fertilizers for agricultural use and biogas to generate power. The Energy Garden Project Location: Canada What KPMG had to say: The Energy Recycling and Waste Management Garden Project in Vancouver is the country's first high-efficiency system for producing renewable energy from food and yard waste. The US$4 million project uses a number of different funding sources and will see up to 27,000 tonnes of food and yard waste per year diverted from British Columbia landfill sites. A demonstration plant will be built to generate enough energy to power up to 700 homes, while also producing high-quality compost. Durham York Energy Waste Project Location: Canada What KPMG had to say: The Durham York Energy Waste Project (DYEC) in southern Ontario is another world-class energy from waste facility being built in Canada. The DYEC will process remaining residential waste following Durham and York's aggressive composting and recycling programs, while also recovering materials and energy. Durham York Energy Centre will have a maximum capacity of 140,000 tones per year. Zero Waste: Edinburgh and Midlothian Location: Scotland What KPMG had to say: The project in Scotland impressed judges as the project has been developed in response to the Scottish Government's Zero Waste Plan in 2010. It aims to separate all food waste collections from regular rubbish by 2013 followed by a ban on recyclable waste in landfills by 2015. The project involves development of an anaerobic digestion facility to process 30,000 tonnes of waste per annum. Tonsberg Waste to Energy PPP Location: Norway What KPMG had to say: The proposed Tonsberg Waste to Energy PPP will serve one of the oldest towns in Norway. This project is another strong example of a city using a PPP to manage waste and put it to a productive use. The project will help Tonsberg and other municipalities in Vestfold County to convert sewage sludge, food waste, organic commercial waste and manure into biogas which will then be used for heating and electricity production. The council also expects to use it for running buses which currently use about four million gallons of gasoline/diesel per year. Read More Waste to Energy Facility Given Thumbs Up in Ontario The Regional Municipalities of Durham and York, Ontario has given Covanta (NYSE: CVA) Notice to Proceed for the construction of a 140,000 tonne per year waste to energy facility in the Municipality of Clarington, Ontario. Contract Extension for Kerbside Recycling in Edinburgh The City of Edinburgh Council has given a one year extension to Palm Recycling to continue running the city's kerbside recycling scheme, which takes the contract through to 2013. 100 MW Waste to Energy Facility for Abu Dhabi A Memorandum of Understanding for the joint development of 100 MW waste to energy facility in Abu Dhabi has been signed by Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC (TAQA) and The Centre of Waste Management Abu Dhabi (CWM). Free Magazine Subscription Free Email Newsletter