It is with great pleasure that we announce Lorenzo Romualdi as the new Technical Director of Waste Facilities for the Refining Division. With extensive experience in the field and unwavering determination, Romualdi aims to elevate the Refining Division to the next level, focusing his efforts on effective waste management and operational optimization.

But what exactly is the role of the Technical Director of Waste Facilities (TDWF)? He plays a key role in ensuring that waste storage and treatment plants operate safely, in compliance with regulations, and with respect for the environment. The TDWF ensures that all operations comply with current waste management regulations; oversees the safety of workers and the surrounding environment by implementing preventive measures; prepares and executes emergency plans to handle critical situations such as accidents or hazardous material spills; and stays up-to-date on regulations and industry best practices through training and regular review of regulatory changes.

We had the opportunity to interview Romualdi to learn more about his plans and goals for the future.

What do you plan to implement in your new role as Technical Director of the Refining Division?

In my new role, I will primarily focus on overseeing the waste cycle in all its phases, ensuring compliance with established guidelines. To achieve this, I plan to concentrate on four key pillars: training, organization, communication and collaboration, and trust. It is crucial that all employees involved gain the necessary knowledge and understand the various issues and challenges related to waste management.

What goals have you set for 2024 and the years to come?

For 2024, our primary goal is to consolidate and optimize the management of incoming and outgoing waste at the plant, with a strong focus on safety and environmental protection. Additionally, we have just finalized a regulatory amendment that will allow us to increase our production capacity, and we are making progress in the design of new emission reduction and energy recovery systems. We are operating in a context of transition and business expansion, so it is crucial to face these challenges with determination and pragmatism.

What are the main challenges and opportunities that Valmet Refining is facing?

In addition to the importance of safe and environmentally-conscious management, the main challenge lies in digital transformation: transferring operational procedures and customary best practices into a computerized management system. This system will enhance traceability and reporting of the results achieved in waste treatment. Furthermore, we are planning future expansions and evaluating new projects to introduce different treatment methods to manage new waste streams that have become of interest following our integration into Legor Group. It’s a long and demanding task, both internally for our reorganization and externally in managing relationships with regulatory bodies and securing necessary authorizations. These challenges also present the greatest opportunities for growth and improvement.

A Concrete Example of Circular Economy in Action

Recovery Methods
There is widespread interest in recovering specific waste materials, such as fashion accessories coated with precious metals but composed internally of metals originally considered of lower value and later reevaluated by the same market, such as copper and its alloys (zinc and brass). For this reason, the stripping plant primarily processes materials from the electroplating sector, fashion industry, and bijou world, where surplus inventory, discarded products, test samples manipulated or damaged, and defective or imperfect items are sourced.