Q: “You have been familiar with the vacuum system right from its launch. What attracted your attention most when it was put into operation?”

A: “Firstly, I would like to say that I came here to Alcobendas because I was attracted by the idea of a town committed to modern infrastructure solutions. So when the municipality planned the Valdelasfuentes housing estate as a community of the future, I welcomed the automated waste collection system. What most surprised me was just how clean and silent the system is, once it was in operation.

Waste disposal is usually associated with litter and the spread of unpleasant odours, but this is not the case with the Envac system. Pay the collection station a visit and you will see straight away that there are no visible signs either of waste or spillage. It doesn’t feel at all like you are in a building where several tons of waste is collected every day.”  

Q: “Why does the municipality attach such importance to energy consump¬tion in the tender documentation for the operation and maintenance of the system at Valdelasfuentes?”

A: “This relates directly to the Alcobendas environmental management system, which we apply in all municipal buildings. The collection station fits into this category. Under the environmental management system, we are compelled to require all our subcontractors to collaborate on achieving our goal, i.e. energy efficiency. This is not only beneficial in terms of the environment but also involves direct cost savings for our municipality.”
 

Q: “Envac has not only adapted to the values described in the tender documentation but has gone as far as reducing energy consumption by some 20 percent between 2008 and 2009. How do you judge Envac’s efforts?”

A: “With what has been said above in mind, we are extremely pleased that our requirements are being reflected in measurable results. We also realise that we are working with one of the best companies when it comes to the management of the waste vacuum system.”
 

Q: As environmental manager for the Municipality of Alcobendas how well do you think Envac operates the system?”

A: “The system works extremely well, and that is not just my opinion, but one based on a number of indicators, one of the most important being the number of complaints from local residents, another being the number of incidents we register for all the services for which my department is responsible. We have had very few reports from the auto¬mated waste disposal system, which would seem to indicate that the operation of the system causes little inconvenience to residents.

I believe these results depend to a major extent on the rigorous operating and maintenance protocols and the work performed by the staff responsible of the collection station. Both in terms of preventive maintenance and troubleshooting, resulting in unterrupted waste disposal service.

In my opinion, relations between companies are born from the personnel of the company. In this case, Envac staff work harmoniously and in close collaboration with my engineers, which also adds to our satisfaction with the service".