19 July 2010
Treatment of green algae: Inauguration of the composting-sorting plant
in Launay-Lantic (Côte d’Armor), in the presence of Mr. Bruno Lemaire and of Mrs. Chantal Jouanno
Today, the CNIM Group and the SMITOM in Launay Lantic inaugurated the odour treatment and drying installations for green algae at the waste sorting-composting plant located in this community, in the presence of Mr. Bruno LEMAIRE, Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fishing, and of Mrs. Chantal JOUANNO, Secretary of State for Ecology.
In 2009, the CNIM Group obtained the contract to operate this centre’s waste composting and burial unit. The technology implemented by the CNIM Group has led to the development of a treatment capacity for green algae that offers perfect security and is also free of odours, thanks to the confinement and treatment of air using appropriate biofilters during the drying process. Launched in March with the financial and administrative assistance of the State, the CNIM Group carried out the construction of these boxes in a record timeframe of 4 months.
The phenomenon of the proliferation of green algae has become a worrisome nuisance in France, particularly in Brittany. According to an INERIS study carried out on the beach of Saint-Michel en Grève in the summer of 2009, at the request of the Secretary of State for Ecology, the heaps of decomposing algae release toxic gases at high concentrations, notably hydrogen sulphide.
The completed extensions and the processes newly implemented at the Launay-Lantic composting plant will serve to avoid odours, to do away with the production of toxic gas (hydrogen sulphide) and to dry nearly 25,000 tonnes of green algae.