Electricity generation: the innovative ORC unit
This unit enables us to recover waste heat, thereby continuing to generate heat even beyond the winter, when heat networks are reduced.
Harnessing energy from waste
As a subsidiary of Séché Environnement operating under a public service delegation, Alcea Nantes has operated a waste recovery unit serving the greater Nantes area since 2012. Here, we recover industrial and household waste from the region, transforming it into energy.
The facility handles three categories of waste:
- household waste
- non-hazardous waste generated by businesses
- medical waste generated by healthcare establishments and professionals across the region
This potentially infectious medical waste (PIMW) is handled within a specific treatment channel to avoid operators coming into any contact with it.
Alcea endeavors to recover the energy produced by burning this waste as:
- heat – connected to the Centre Loire heat network (87km), the facility generates enough heat to supply the equivalent of 41,000 homes (including apartments, swimming pools, and hospitals), representing 56% of the need served by the network.
- electricity – since 2014, we have been transforming a portion of this energy into electricity using a special turbine. Our waste plays a key role in generating renewable energy as by harnessing this energy source, we become less reliant on fossil energy.
And that is what the circular economy is all about!
Practical information
Contact
Zone industrielle de la Prairie de Mauves
415, rue de l’étier
44319 Nantes Cedex 3, France
Tel: +33240 528 550
Fax: +33240 528 569
Communications and PR Manager – West
Marine Bainvel
Business Development Manager
Tivizio Klein
Opening hours
Monday: 8.30am–12.30pm and 1.30pm–5pm
Tuesday: 8.30am–12.30pm and 1.30pm–5pm
Wednesday: 8.30am–12.30pm and 1.30pm–5pm
Thursday: 8.30am–12.30pm and 1.30pm–5pm
Friday: 8.30am–12.30pm and 1.30pm–5pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
Waste drop-off hours
PIMW: on appointment, Monday to Saturday 5am-2pm
Dry waste: Monday to Friday 7am-8.30pm
Industrial waste: on appointment, Monday to Friday
Household waste: Monday to Sunday 6am-9pm
News
Sharing our expertise across borders
Our waste recovery and treatment sites near Laval (53) and Nantes (44) were visited by a delegation from the South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE).
More information
Alcéa safety breakfast - Nantes Métropole
On Thursday June 29, a warm atmosphere prevailed at the safety breakfast organized between ALCEA teams and Nantes Métropole. The event, attended by over fifty drivers, refuse collectors and supervisors from Nantes Métropole, was an opportunity to highlight the importance of safety instructions when collecting and processing household waste.
More information
Alcea in figures
Figures that prove we stand by our pledges
Recovery
139,000 tons
of household waste recovered each year
Circular economy
41,000
equivalent homes heated by this waste
Climate
86,000
barrels of petrol not used each year
Our equipment
Energy recovery: the kiln-boiler unit
Two kilns, each able to treat nearly 9.5 tons of waste every hour, are equipped with a boiler that produces overheated water that can be recovered either for the urban heat network, or as electricity.
Material recovery: bottom ash treatment
The Alcea treatment chain is capable of recovering between 80 and 85% of metals present in bottom ash (the solid residue left after waste is incinerated).
Certifications
We have always sought to improve our practices, measure our impact on the environment and achieve the highest standards with respect to energy and environmental performance.
Quality management
Download this certificate
Environmental performance
Download this certificate
Occupational health and safety management
Download this certificate
Energy performance
Download this certificate
Our commitment to the community
To help tackle the many emergencies facing society with respect to the climate, public health, biodiversity and natural resources, we are stepping up our efforts and objectives. Our local, circular, low-carbon solutions help bring about the essential transition toward a more responsible economy.
Find out more about the Group's commitments
Harmoniously combining biodiversity and industrial activity in Alcea's gardens
The Alcea teams take care to provide refuges and habitats essential to the long-term survival of local species (including insects, birds, small mammals), such as bird boxes, insect hotels, shrubbery and green spaces. In partnership with the Ligue de Protection des Oiseaux, we monitor changes in bird, bat and plant populations. Involved in the Sustainable Practices to Protect Nature launched by the Group, we also implement initiatives to raise awareness among our teams (a guide listing the nature walks in the local area, an in-house gazette, and directives to reduce consumption and waste).
Preserving natural resources
In order to preserve natural resources, we make use of rainwater collected in a 450 m3 basin in our processes (for example to clean medical waste containers).
Harnessing the full potential of waste to benefit the local area
Each day, Alcea receives waste from 24 towns around the greater Nantes area. Non-recyclable waste is destroyed so as to recover the metal contained therein, generate energy and protect the environment.
Raising public awareness
In order to give people an insight into what we do, we give guided tours of our facility upon reservation, from Monday to Friday.
Documents and resources
Half-year measurements
Résultat des mesures semestrielles de 2013 à 2021Continuous measurements
Résultat des mesures en continu de 2013 à 2022Dioxin and furan measurements
Suivi des dioxines et furanes de 2012 à 2022Atmospheric discharges measurements
Mesures des rejets atmosphériques de 2021 à 2022Join us!
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