Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the tonnage of waste collected are the virtuous objectives of the performance contract signed on June 1, 2023, for seven years between Limoges Métropole and Suez. The fleet of collection vehicles now runs on biofuel instead of diesel, as before, which has significantly reduced GHG emissions.
“We are at least 93% announces Guillaume Guérin, president of Limoges Métropole, the objective is to move towards zero GHG in the collection of household waste. Sixteen electric trucks will be put into service by the end of July and other vehicles are bio-NGV. 100% carbon-free collection is in line with our regional project focused on two building blocks: sustainability and economic development. » This will prevent the release of 1,300 tonnes of CO2 per year into the atmosphere.
The first electric truck has been driving since January to collect waste.
The first electric collection truck has been in service since January. Its autonomy is sufficient for its tour. Recharging only takes 45 minutes at a cost of around €50 compared to triple that with diesel. An eco-base has been set up on the Suez site, in the northern area of Limoges, to accommodate new vehicles.
In addition, this performance contract is “cheaper of around 150,000 euros per year compared to the previous market which was 100% diesel he notes, This is good news for the taxpayer and the region. These are not one-off operations to say that we are green; we are convinced that this territory has a card to play in the near future.” An initiative which positions the Urban Community as a pioneer in this field. “We are the first territory in France to be 100% decarbonized attests Sarah Gentil, vice-president in charge of waste management and collection. The center of Limoges is not accessible to large trucks because there are tonnage restrictions, hence the choice of biofuel. »
Consideration should also be given, in the short term, to retrofitting one to three garbage trucks with hydrogen. “It’s a technology of the future which is very expensive but I don’t want to wipe the plaster insists Guillaume Guérin, I asked Suez to study the possibility of retrofitting skips in order to complete and initiate uses. The public force alone will not be able to carry the technology. »
8% less household waste in one year
Reducing household waste is at the heart of this battle with a target of less 20% by 2030. In one year, the reduction reaches 8%, the equivalent of 16.5 kg per inhabitant and up to 46 kg of less in the 19 municipalities of the urban community and 2 urban districts of Limoges where reverse collection operates. Thus, the collection of household waste takes place every two weeks, that of recyclable waste every week. “We were at 185 kg per inhabitant in 2022 of household waste, the projection would take us to 139 kg in 2024 announces Sarah Gentil. On was at 62 kg in 2022 for sorting with 72 kg expected this year. All this didn’t happen alone. We have tripled the number of composters distributed free of charge. Biowaste kits were distributed door to door by the Aléas association to launch this new collection with 2kg per inhabitant which no longer goes into household waste. »
Collection monitoring is ongoing for the Suez Recycling and Recovery teams in order to achieve the objective of less 20% by 2030.
Voluntary contributions were also encouraged in town at terminals installed for this purpose, as well as individual and collective composting. At the same time, the sorting of paper and packaging has increased by more than 5 kg per inhabitant thanks to the mobilization of partners on the ground, to raise awareness and support them.
Gestures and new habits which, taken together, tip the scales in the right direction but must continue to achieve the set objective. “Limoges Métropole is the 5th community to have set up this market remarks Sarah Gentil, Suez has committed to values to be achieved each year and must also find solutions to improve our performance.”
This objective is part of a project to build an energy recovery unit which must replace, within 5 years, the Beaubreuil waste energy plant which is reaching the end of its life. The volume of household waste must not exceed 100,000 tonnes, hence the obligation to reduce waste at source. The stakes are high, knowing that in addition, waste from Creuse will be directed to this unit instead of being treated in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region as currently.
“4 projects labeled low carbon”
These first results reassure Laurent Burtschell, SUEZ Recycling and Recovery territory director. “We have completely rethought the waste collection model with the reversal of collection frequencies, the capture of biowaste flows with nearly 200 voluntary drop-off points and individual and collective composting deployed by Limoges Métropole. We had to travel less and move better with low-carbon collection.”
To offset the 7% GHG emissions, four local agricultural transition projects were financed in partnership with the Chamber of Agriculture of Haute-Vienne and Agoterra. This involves developing new breeding practices, new crops, using alternative fuels and even reducing certain nitrogen fertilizers. “The Chamber of Agriculture is a pioneer assure Charles Muller, the decarbonization of practices is really new in agriculture. Farmers have been supported for five years with 75 farms treated, which made it possible to avoid 50,000 tonnes of CO2. » With these four low-carbon labeled projects, there will be 1,529 tonnes of GHGs that should not be released into the atmosphere for five years.
During the first day of the Social Clauses in Nouvelle-Aquitaine which distinguished the commitments and practices of buyers and companies, Limoges Métropole and Suez were rewarded, on March 14, for their global approach to integration and economic development of the territory. In one year, more than 48,000 hours were devoted to integration and 78 people were included in a system set up by SUEZ or its partners Acto insertion, Aléas, Still, Interim Handicap, ESAT La Ribière and ‘ENSIL ENSCI as part of a work-study program.
