Case study: Eco Baltia's MSW and Packaging Waste sorting line in Latvia

RECAP

Azortum has designed, installed, and commissioned an advanced municipal solid waste (MSW) and packaging waste sorting system for Eco Baltia in Latvia.
The new sorting line can process 30 tons of MSW and 7 tons of packaging waste per hour, adding up to 45,000 tons per year.
Unlike traditional waste sorting plants, Eco Baltia’s line avoids intensive shredding and instead utilizes adaptive equipment and advanced optical sorting technologies,

RISING DEMAND FOR SUSTAINABLE WASTE MANAGEMENT

As Latvia's leading waste and environmental management company, Eco Baltia faced a rising demand for efficient and sustainable municipal waste management. With ever-increasing volumes of municipal solid waste (MSW) and packaging materials, the company needed a solution that would help:

Improve material recovery rates
Meet strict environmental and recycling standards
Improve processing efficiency
Reduce energy consumption and operational waste

Traditional facilities, which rely on intensive shredding, were no longer sufficient to meet these goals. Eco Baltia sought a modern, scalable solution that could manage both municipal solid waste and light packaging fractions, without compromising on energy use or recovery quality.

THE SOLUTION

Azortum designed, delivered, and commissioned a high-throughput MSW and packaging waste sorting system, tailored specifically to Eco Baltia's requirements. The turnkey project encompassed the entire workflow, from concept design to full operational handover.

The new system is capable of processing:

30 tons per hour of municipal solid waste
7 tons per hour of packaging waste
Up to 45,000 tons annually

This new line is engineered with modular and adaptive equipment, prioritizing energy efficiency, precision sorting, and material purity.

BLENDING AUTOMATED AND MANUAL PROCESSES

The sorting line blends automated and manual processes, structured for maximum efficiency and material recovery.

1

Manual pre-sorting

Trained personnel remove oversized and non-compliant items such as bricks, electronics, and hazardous waste.

2

Screening Units

Remaining waste is sorted by size to direct material toward specialized sorting streams.

3

Optical sorting technology

High-speed detection units automatically identify and separate materials such as HDPE, PET, PP, Tetra Pak, film, paper and cardboard.

4

Automated fraction handling

Bulk fractions are handled efficiently with minimized mechanical stress, preserving material integrity.

5

Final manual quality control

Human operators perform a quality check to ensure high-purity recyclable output.

ESTABLISHING A FUTURE-READY SORTING LINE

Eco Baltia now operates a future-ready waste sorting facility that sets a new regional benchmark for the processing of municipal solid waste and packaging fractions. Developed and commissioned by Azortum, this advanced system delivers measurable improvements across efficiency, sustainability, and energy usage.

Advanced recovery efficiency

High-speed optical sorters enable precise separation of polymers, fibers, and packaging materials.
Optimized material flow maximizes throughput and reduces bottlenecks.
Final manual checks ensure high-purity recyclable output.

Lower energy use

By eliminating the need for intensive shredding, the system significantly reduces energy consumption, contributing to lower operational costs and environmental impact.
Modular equipment dynamically adapts to variable waste streams, minimizing unnecessary processing.

Sustainability & circular economy impact

Reduced reliance on landfills due to higher material recovery rates, supporting a more circular waste management approach.
Increased recyclable material purity, improving resale value, and downstream processing
Alignment with EU climate and recycling directives.

By integrating modern technologies with smart design, Eco Baltia’s new facility meets growing environmental and operational demands while also supporting a more circular economy.

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