Preparatory actions

A1 Mobilization of land for CE demonstration model

The objective of this action is to mobilize sufficient land plots within 60 km radius surrounding Vilnius city, to provide background for sustainable long-term recycling of 100% of Vilnius city’s dried MWTS digestate and corresponding amount of biomass ashes. Targeted area includes entire Vilnius, Trakai, Elektrėnai, Šalčininkai and Širvintos regions and parts of Varėna, Kaišiadorys, Ukmergė, Molėtai and Švenčionys regions.

“Vilniaus vandenys” produces annually about 9000 dmt of dried municipal water treatment sludge digestate, thus in total on average 600 ha of biomass plantations will be needed to recycle all “Vilniaus vandenys” produced dried municipal water treatment sludge digestate. To create long-term sustainable mechanism for dried municipal water treatment sludge digestate of “Vilniaus vandenys” recycling it will be needed 1800 ha of biomass plantations in the area as according Lithuanian legislation dried municipal water treatment sludge in biomass plantations can be recycled once in three years.

The mobilization of the 1800 ha land pool for the project purposes will involve two types of sub-actions: mobilization of 900 ha of biomass plantations (poplar and hybrid aspen) already established before implementation of the project and mobilization of 900 ha of agricultural land (abandoned and less suitable to conventional agricultural activities), on which biomass plantations will be established within the project scope.

A2  Permitting for nutrient recycling from waste

The objective of this action is to develop dried municipal water treatment sludge digestate and biomass ashes recycling in biomass plantations management/fertilization plans and to receive required environmental permits to recycle nutrients from waste.
Municipal water treatment sludge digestate recycling in biomass plantations management/fertilization plans will be developed based upon requirements defined in “Rules of waste water treatment sludge usage in fertilization and land reclamation LAND 20-2005” approved by the Minister of environment of the Republic of Lithuania be decree No.349 as of 28-06-2001. LAND 20-2005 was issued by harmonizing EU Council Directive on the protection of the environment, and in particular of the soil, when sewage sludge is used in agriculture (86/278/EEC).
Municipal water treatment sludge digestate recycling in biomass plantations management/fertilization plans will be developed based on land plot or groups of land plots in particular locations basis. It is anticipated, that appr. 80 municipal water treatment sludge digestate fertilization plans will be developed within the scope of the project and will be approved by corresponding authorities, i.e. permissions granted to fertilize will be issued by Environment protection agency.
Biomass ashes recycling in biomass plantations management/fertilization plans will be developed based upon “Rules of management and usage of biomass ashes” approved by the Minister of environment of the Republic of Lithuania be decree No.D1-14 as of 05-01-2011 including amendments, which regulate usage of biomass ashes in recycling on land (fertilization) and in construction .
Rules have special provision for biomass ashes usage in agricultural biomass plantations and
forests. According the Rules biomass ashes can be used to fertilize biomass plantations after preparation of biomass ashes recycling in biomass plantations management/fertilization plans which have to be approved by Environment protection agency (i.e. permission granted). Its is expected that appr. 24 biomass ashes fertilization plans will be developed and approved by the Environment protection agency.