3Wayste

3Wayste SAS provides a patented, industrial waste-sorting technology designed to process 100% of mixed household waste. The company's history is closely tied to the Vacher Group, a family-owned entity active in waste treatment since the 1980s. The 3Wayste technology itself was invented in 2010 by Fabien Charreyre. A key milestone was the opening of the Altriom sorting plant in Polignac, France, in 2014, which serves as a commercial-scale proof of concept for the technology.

The company's business model centers on the development, design, construction, and operation of multi-stream industrial sorting centers. It commercializes its patented technology through turnkey plant construction and technology transfer agreements. Clients are primarily local and national governments, as well as public-private partnerships and infrastructure companies. For instance, 3Wayste holds the territorial license for its technology on La Réunion Island in a partnership with SUEZ and ENERGIPOLE, treating 170,000 tonnes of waste annually under a 15-year contract. The firm also has licensing agreements under negotiation in Canada and Morocco.

The 3Wayste process achieves a valorization rate of over 90%, significantly reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills. Upon arrival at a facility, a proprietary, patented bag opener processes the waste without shredding the contents. A series of mechanical and automated processes, including magnets, eddy current systems, and optical sorters with hyperspectral sensors, then separate the materials. The system recovers three main product streams: recyclable materials (15%), high-quality compost (20%), and a Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF) (35%). The SRF, derived from non-recyclable plastics, serves as a coal alternative for industrial clients like cement plants. The technology is designed to meet the European Union's 2035 target of reducing landfilled municipal waste to less than 10%.

Keywords: waste-to-value, municipal solid waste, waste sorting technology, circular economy, resource recovery, solid recovered fuel, waste management, recycling technology, cleantech, environmental technology, compost production, landfill diversion, patented waste technology, turnkey waste plants, public-private partnership waste, industrial sorting, Altriom, Fabien Charreyre, SUEZ partner, automated waste sorting