What happened after the Watt d'Or: System Alpine Air

In 2010, the municipality of Zermatt put its entire waste and recyclables disposal system out to public tender. Waste disposal in Zermatt is a major challenge due to the narrow roads and the large quantities of waste that accumulate seasonally in a small area. Schwendimann AG won the tender with a solution tailored to Zermatt, the so-called System Alpenluft.

This is operated by the newly founded company of the same name. It replaced the existing waste containers with so-called micro-press containers, which compress the waste on site. As a result, the waste from 25 conventional containers fits into a four cubic metre container. This results in significantly fewer emptying trips. Electrically powered sideloaders, which are suitable for Zermatt's narrow streets, collect the micro compactors. Although the initial costs are higher compared to conventional disposal, the system brings energy savings of 80 percent. In 2012, System-Alpenluft won the Watt d'Or in the energy-efficient mobility category for this.

Start with obstacles

After Zermatt awarded the contract to Schwendimann AG, the previous contract holder appealed due to a formal error in the tender. He lost, took the decision further to the Valais Cantonal Court and lost again. As a result, System-Alpenluft was not able to start implementing its disposal solution until mid-2013. During this time, the municipality of Zermatt also decided to introduce a sack fee and to collect organic waste separately, which resulted in an increase in the recycling rate from 18 to almost 60 percent. In over 200 commercial kitchens and at the 40 waste collection points, System-Alpenluft installed additional containers for food leftovers and ricotta waste. In May of this year, an anaerobic digestion plant was put into operation. This produces electricity from the organic waste, which is used to power the electric sideloaders. "This gives us a closed energy cycle," says Manuel Wyss, project manager of System-Alpenluft. Local production means they are not dependent on external electricity suppliers.

Seasonal fluctuations

With Schwendimann AG and its managing director Matthias Schwendimann, System-Alpenluft AG has a partner with many years of experience in the field of waste disposal at its side. Wyss and Schwendimann are always faced with challenges in Zermatt. For example, during the high season the number of people in the village increases from around 6,000 inhabitants to 30,000 - this also means correspondingly larger quantities of waste that have to be disposed of. In addition, tourists and seasonal workers should be sensitized to the waste separation system so that, for example, organic waste is not mixed with plastic. Nevertheless, it became apparent that the Alpine Air System is particularly worthwhile when a lot of waste accumulates in a small area, such as in city centres or in other tourist villages.

More courage required

Unlike conventional waste disposal, the System Alpine Air generates hardly any noise. For this reason, Wyss and Schwendimann were even contacted by those responsible for waste disposal in Melbourne. The city planned to carry out the disposal runs at night and therefore needed a noiseless system. The offer was already on the table, but then the political balance of power changed due to elections. "Our system pays for itself after seven years - a legislative period usually lasts four years," says Schwendimann, explaining the difficulties of marketing. More courage is needed in politics and openness to change. But even at the public tender stage, the Alpenluft system is often ruled out because no unconventional variants are desired. Nevertheless, Wyss and Schwendimann are in talks with various interested parties and are trying to convince them of the advantages of the sustainable and energy-saving Alpenluft system.

Isabelle Frühwirt, university intern Federal Council and parliamentary business