Biomethane, gas from recycling

The partnership with Hera Group on projects involving the circular economy, sustainable mobility and the improvement of waste recycling, established in 2020, was renewed for an indefinite period at the end of 2022. Its results have been impressive since the outset. The organic waste recycling project currently involves 19 Camst food service points in the Bologna and Modena areas, but will gradually be extended to other locations in the same provinces. 

All the waste is taken to the Hera plant at Sant’Agata Bolognese, where it is transformed into biomethane which, as a 100% renewable fuel obtained from waste, has much lower environmental impact than fossil fuels. 

In 2023, 60,739 m3 of biomethane was produced, generating a saving of 46 tonnes of oil and a reduction in CO2 of 107 tonnes. Considering that on average a medium-sized tree absorbs about 0.1 tonne of CO2 a year, the saving achieved is equivalent to the absorption of about 1,065 of them.

Oiling the system with biofuel

Thanks to the agreement signed with Eni, the recycling of used vegetable oils for the production of hydrogenated biofuel is also progressing well. In 2023, collections from the 282 Camst locations involved yielded 57 tonnes of oil (38 tonnes more than in 2021), enabling the production of 58,796 litres of biofuel, representing an annual saving of 49 tonnes of oil equivalent, sufficient to power a medium-sized car for 1,175,926 km, and of 161.92 tonnes of CO2 equivalent, the amount absorbed by about 1,619 medium-sized trees.