The launch of a New computer waste management center in Culleredo It has already received environmental approval from the Galician administration, which clears the way for this facility specializing in technological waste to be incorporated into the map of waste treatment infrastructure in Galicia.
This project will be located in the Almeiras-A Marisqueira business park It was created with the aim of responding to the growing volume of obsolete electrical and electronic equipment, in line with European circular economy policies and regulatory requirements on WEEE (waste electrical and electronic equipment) management.
Environmental authorization and impact assessment
La Xunta de Galicia, through the Department of Environment and Climate ChangeThe environmental impact assessment has been issued, after analyzing the technical documentation and the potential effects on the environment. The report concludes that no significant impacts are anticipated, provided that the conditions set out in the resolution and the environmental monitoring program are met.
The procedure followed was that of simplified environmental impact assessmentThis procedure applies to projects with limited potential impact and allows for a determination, after the relevant studies, of whether or not a more thorough analysis is necessary. In this case, the environmental authorities have deemed this simplified process sufficient.
During the phase of public informationThe project documentation was made available to the public and interested parties, and no objections were registered. At the same time, reports were requested from various sectoral bodies, whose observations resulted in additional conditions that the developer must comply with.
All these conditions are aimed at guaranteeing the protection of the atmosphere, public health, water quality, and conservation of soil and infrastructureas well as proper landscape integration of the activity and proper management of the waste treated at the plant.
The approved environmental resolution emphasizes that the authorization does not exempt the promoting company from obtain the remaining licenses, permits and reports that are mandatory before starting the activity, both at the regional and municipal levels. Among other things, it will be necessary to have the corresponding municipal urban planning and environmental permits.
Location in an existing warehouse in Almeiras-A Marisqueira
The future center will be located in the interior of an already built industrial buildingThe property, owned by the development company, is located in the Almeiras-A Marisqueira industrial park in Culleredo. The space is already equipped for the intended activity, so no new construction or significant structural renovations will be necessary.
This choice of a previously available infrastructure It reduces the impact associated with earthworks, construction of new buildings, and the generation of construction waste. In this way, existing resources are used more efficiently and the project's implementation is expedited.
The ship will be primarily used for storage, classification and recovery of computer wastewith separate areas for receiving materials, handling them and temporarily storing them before sending them to final managers or other recycling processes.
Located in an established business park, the facility will benefit from a good road accessibility and its proximity to other logistics and industrial activities, which facilitates both the entry of waste from different sources and the exit of recovered materials to other destinations.
Integration into an already industrialized environment also helps to minimize potential disturbances to residential areas, as the industrial park has infrastructure and services designed for industrial use, including supply networks, internal roads and water drainage systems.
Project promoter and type of waste managed
The company is behind the initiative. Ridel Northwest SL, promoter of the computer waste management center. Its proposal focuses on the treatment of WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) mainly related to the IT and office sectors, one of the fastest growing waste streams due to the constant renewal of equipment.
Among the materials that will be received at the plant, the following stand out: computer screens, small and large printers, various computer components (circuit boards, cables, peripherals) and ink and toner cartridges. In all cases, these are waste materials classified as non-hazardous within the scope of the authorized project.
The planned operations cover the secure storage and valorization of these wastes, which involves preparing them for reuse, dismantling components and sorting usable materials (metals, plastics, electronic parts), which will later be sent to specialized recycling channels.
This type of facility contributes to fulfilling the European and state obligations on WEEE managementThese schemes set increasingly demanding collection and recycling targets. Furthermore, they allow for the extraction of secondary raw materials from products that might otherwise end up in landfills or be improperly managed.
The activity will be carried out under specific controls aimed at avoid dust emissions, noise or spillsas well as to properly manage any additional waste generated during internal processes, in accordance with applicable waste legislation in Spain and within the regulatory framework of the European Union.
Processing capacity and storage limits
The approved documentation establishes a normal treatment capacity of 43 tons per year For the Culleredo plant, this figure can increase to a maximum of 54,75 tons per year at peak times of activity, always within the authorized limits.
Regarding storage in the warehouse, a maximum point storage capacity of 14,05 tonsThis forces the manager to maintain a constant flow of materials in and out in order not to exceed that threshold and to ensure that the waste does not remain stored longer than necessary.
These values ​​have been determined taking into account the available surface area, the characteristics of the building and the safety conditionsso that the volume of waste is compatible with the established occupational risk prevention and environmental protection measures.
The combination of annual treatment limits and storage volume limits aims to prevent situations of oversaturation or prolonged accumulation of equipment and components, something especially relevant in the case of electronic waste, which requires tidy spaces and clear handling procedures.
In addition, the project incorporates a environmental monitoring program to monitor the continuous compliance with these parameters and detect possible deviations, with the obligation to adopt corrective measures if any relevant incident is identified.
Environmental factors and administrative control
The environmental impact report details a series of specific conditions that the company must respect throughout the entire useful life of the installation. These obligations cover both the commissioning phase and the ordinary operation of the facility.
The regulated aspects include the air quality protection and noise minimizationso that the activity does not cause any appreciable disturbance to the nearby industrial environment or, where applicable, to the inhabited areas closest to the industrial park.
Requirements to safeguard the water quality and riverbeds, with special attention to the management of wastewater or possible leachate, which must be conveyed and treated in accordance with the requirements of water regulations.
Regarding land and infrastructure, the resolution requires a careful handling of waste and stored materials to prevent spills, leaks or damage to the facilities, as well as proper signage and distribution of work, transit and storage areas.
The regional government points out that the environmental assessment is a binding document and that any substantial change in activityThe types of waste managed or the facilities used must be notified and, where appropriate, subject to a new environmental assessment or a modification of the authorization.
Once the resolution has been issued, it will be sent to the competent substantive body and It will be published both in the Official Gazette of Galicia and on the website. of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, thus guaranteeing the transparency of the process and public access to information.
With the implementation of this computer waste management center in Culleredo, Galicia adds a additional infrastructure aligned with European circular economy strategies, strengthening the network of facilities dedicated to the recovery of electrical and electronic equipment and contributing to a more responsible management of the technological waste generated by today's society.