EBRD lends PLN 71.6 million to Bioelektra for innovative municipal waste management facility in Wierzbica
By Nigina Mirbabaeva
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is supporting Poland’s green economy transition by extending a PLN 71.6 million loan to Bioelektra, a pioneering waste management company specialising in innovative waste-processing technologies.
The Bank’s investment, backed by an InvestEU guarantee and provided through a syndicated financing facility with mBank and Bank Ochrony Srodowiska, will support the construction of Bioelektra’s new municipal solid waste-processing plant in Wierzbica.
The state-of-the-art facility will have the capacity to process up to 150,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste annually using RotoSteril autoclaving technology, a cutting-edge method that transforms waste into reusable materials while minimising environmental impact.
The proprietary technology will enable the plant to recover 57 per cent of materials, including biomass and recyclables (such as glass, aluminium, cellulose or metals), and reduce landfill reliance to less than 5 per cent, well below the national average of 40 per cent for conventional facilities.
The Wierzbica plant is expected to pave the way for other, similar facilities in Poland and beyond, bolstering the country’s ability to meet European Union recycling and landfill reduction targets, which require member states to recycle at least 65 per cent of mixed municipal solid waste by 2035 and reduce landfill use to less than 10 per cent. This will play a crucial role in improving Poland’s waste-management practices and advancing its circular economy.
“We’re proud to support Bioelektra in scaling up its innovative technology. Our investment will not only promote sustainable waste management solutions, but also drive further uptake of advanced technologies, enhancing the competitiveness of Polish businesses,” said Head of Infra EMEA, part of the EBRD’s Sustainable Infrastructure Group Sue Barrett.
The EBRD is a leading institutional investor in Poland, investing almost €15.4 billion in the country to date. Last year the Bank invested a record €1.43 billion there.
