The first municipal benches made entirely from recycled materials have appeared in Białystok. This is the result of a project carried out by LECH, which has launched a pilot production line for Eco-Composite Panels at the local Municipal Waste Treatment Plant. The new material is made from drinks cartons and polyethylene film, and its introduction paves the way for the practical use of raw materials that have previously been difficult to recycle.
Białystok is developing a circular economy system by introducing solutions that increase recycling rates and enable the reuse of raw materials. The technology, developed in collaboration between LECH and researchers at Poznań University of Technology, enables the transformation of beverage cartons and polyethylene film into a fully-fledged product – the ‘Eco-Composite Panel’. The first benches made from this material have been installed in the squares by St Nicholas’s Orthodox Church and the Guest Palace, as well as on Blues Avenue.
Technology is changing the approach to waste
The production line operates at the Municipal Waste Treatment Plant in Hryniewicze. The panel is made from shredded beverage cartons (70 per cent) and polyethylene film (30 per cent). The waste is shredded, dried, mixed in the correct proportions, and then compressed under high pressure at a temperature of around 230°C. The finished product measures 2×1 m and is between 6 and 20 mm thick.
– This is an example of an innovation designed with the environment in mind, but it also has a very practical aspect. Waste that until now has been among the most difficult to manage is being turned into a durable material with a wide range of applications. “I am delighted that it is the municipal company LECH that has implemented this solution, which may serve as an inspiration for other local authorities and waste management companies, ” says Tadeusz Truskolaski, Mayor of Białystok.
From prototype
The Eco-Composite Panel has obtained the required certifications, and the Integrated Permit issued in 2026 allowed the product to lose its waste status, thereby enabling its sale. This made it possible to produce the first pieces of street furniture – benches, which appeared in the city on 28 July. Two were placed in the square on Lipowa Street, and others on Aleja Bluesa and at the Pałacyk Gościnny.
– “The benches are for residents, but we also have something for their four-legged friends. These are drinking bowls made from EPK slabs for animals, particularly useful during walks on hot days,” says Deputy Mayor Tomasz Klim. – The Podlaskie Voivodeship is a leader in recycling. Białystok recycles 53 per cent of its waste.
Applications
EPK can replace wood-based materials such as MDF or OSB. It is used in construction, transport, logistics, furniture manufacturing and street furniture. The board can be used to make technical and sound-absorbing panels, warehouse fittings, pallets, transport protective packaging, as well as benches, terraces, walkways and advertising displays.
– The boards and their potential uses are not all that LECH has to offer. This is just one of our recycling initiatives. We have also set up a modern composting plant and offer recycled aggregate for the construction industry. And this is not the end of the story for us in this area,” emphasises Lech’s CEO, Michał Stefanowicz.
Waste management
The new technology is the next stage in the municipal waste management system being developed by PUHP LECH. The aim is to increase recycling rates and make the best possible use of raw materials that previously ended up in the stream of waste that is difficult to process. The introduction of EPK into the city’s infrastructure demonstrates that innovative solutions can have a real impact on the quality of public spaces whilst supporting sustainable development.
photos: Dawid Gromadzki
source: Białystok City Council
See also: Ecology | Białystok | City | Street furniture | Squares, Public Spaces, Parks | whiteMAD on Instagram
