We establish resource circulation facilities utilizing coffee grounds, which are suited not only for large cities but also for small- or middle-sized cities.

This case example is drawing attention as a pioneering approach utilizing the power of the private sector to tackle the issue of sludge treatment and disposal costs in sewage management. The project won the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister's Award 2011 "Recycling-based Sewage prize (Sustainability category)."

Kurobe City has outsourced the task to dispose dewatered sludge, but at the same time, it has often been confronted with the situation where it is difficult to make long-term disposal plans due to the significant fluctuations of disposal costs. Also, a dedicated treatment facility operated by an inter-municipal association of the region was abolished, thereby a further cost increase has been expected as a result of the increased amount of waste received by the city's sewage treatment plant.

The Project for Introduction and Operation of Biomass Recycling Facility in Kurobe City Sewage Treatment Plant, the first PFI project targeting a sewage plant in Japan, is managed under the Build-Transfer-Operate (BTO) scheme, where a special purpose company named "Kurobe E Service," represented by the Swing Corporation, takes charge of fund procurement, along with design, construction, maintenance and operation.

Advantages to Kurobe City are:

1. Improvement of operational efficiency achieved through the smooth management of a project adapted to fresh technologies
2. Availability of state-of-the-art biomass utilization technologies, acquisition of sales destinations of byproducts, and reduction of treatment cost
3. Leveling of costs by consigning overall operations of the project including design, construction, maintenance, and management

Specifications of main equipment (Scale of facility)

The facility generates one million cubic meters of biogas per year, which is equivalent to 0.6 million liters of kerosene. Swing Corporation possesses sufficient knowledge and experience to maximize the effectiveness of the energy.

Some of the dry material produced through the treatment process at the facility is sold as high-quality fertilizers or fuel for power generation boilers.

The dry sludge can be also used as a fuel to generate power for boilers. We sell the dry sludge to companies in Toyama which support our intention to promote local production and consumption of energy.
The fuel, positioned as an alternative to fossil fuels, is contributing to CO₂ reduction.

The biomass energy project utilizing sewage sludge, for which proposals were solicited from the private sector, allows for various innovative approaches in regard to independent procurement of coffee grounds, as well as service fees. We are running the project with a focus on the collection of coffee grounds and sales of dry material, in order to ensure the stable operation of the facility.
While seeking a closer cooperation with Kurobe City, we will strive not only for reliable facility operation but also for the promotion of local production and consumption of energy, through the contract period of 15 years for this model project.