COWI A/S services

COWI provides services within waste collection, source separation, recycling, thermal treatment, biological treatment and recovery facilities. Coherent waste collection and treatment schemes are necessary if waste is not to become an ever-growing problem. The schemes must provide viable solutions that satisfy users` needs. COWI has taken part in developing the waste collection and treatment sector in a number of European countries. We have hands-on experience from all steps of the handling and disposal route gained via direct involvement in planning and design of full scale solutions.

Waste management planning from policy to technical solution is increasingly relevant due to the need for cost-effective and environmental sustainable solutions organised via PPP. Worldwide, there is a growing need for sustainable and coherent solutions to municipal and industrial waste management problems. COWI`s experience in waste management planning ranges from policy-making and institutional development to technical design of integrated solutions for the handling and disposal of waste.

COWI is an active player in the development of modern solid waste handling and disposal systems including sanitary landfills. The final destination for waste which cannot be recycled or recovered is a sanitary landfill. A modern sanitary landfill, however, that meets today’s standards does not only include contained cells for waste deposition and leachate treatment and landfill gas handling. It also involves registration and monitoring facilities and efficient compacting equipment. In certain cases it includes facilities for pre-sorting/ recycling and composting adjacent to the landfill area.

Life cycle assessments and economic and socio-economic analysis techniques among others are very important in ensuring sound decision-making for public and private investments in waste management systems. COWI has successfully applied a number of recognised Life cycle analysis (LCA) tools like EaseWaste, GaBi and SigmaPro when analysing impacts on the environment and on the climate from different waste management scenarios, including alternative solutions for selected wastes and substances.

Establishing new organizations and procurement strategies are often challenging task where expert consultancy might be useful. Among other tasks, COWI advises on how to organise waste sectors and set up new utility companies. Waste sectors are undergoing structural and organisational changes including separation of tasks and responsibilities.