The professional program started in Kaposvár, where Zsombor Bohri deputy mayor and Katalin Kovács environmental protection office manager presented the city’s results of environmental protection and sustainability, as well as the implemented and planned developments. The city’s aim is to become an energy independent city; the Action Plan that extends to 2050 covers the necessary measures and required tasks and actions.
Thereafter we hoppen on one of the city’s gas buses and visited the biogas unit of Kaposvár Sugar Plant where Judit Szendefy presented the technology process. The organic matter – the by-product of the processing of sugar beet – is fermented by bacteria and biogas is produced by this process. The biogas covers the factory’s energy supply and fuels the bus fleet, so they try to close the material circle.
The place of the conference was moved to the Puchner Castle Hotel of Bikal, where Gergely Hankó – the general manager of the Association – greeted the participants. András Rácz State Secretary for Environmental Affairs and Bertalan Balczó Deputy State Secretary who is responsible for the nature protection presented the tasks of Ministry of Agriculture.
The afternoon continued with an Open Space workshop (that was moderated by Ex Ante Ltd.) where we discussed 6 themes that are relevant for the Assotiation’s members, for example waste, education and development of Hungarian and international relations.
During the evening we participated at a highly entertaining contest where we tried to be the best at poem writing, Activity, tower building, quiz and painting.
In the second day we got some information about the present state and plans of the Assotiation, as well as the activities of Akusztika Mérnöki Iroda Ltd., ASZEK, Elgoscar-2000 Ltd., István Molnár „Vizesmaci”, Encotech Ltd. and Cortinaplast Ltd.
It was followed by a round table discussion with the environmental protection representatives of Tolna and Somogy counties’ authorities and professional organizations. They presented their activities, tasks, challenges and problems, as well as the opportunities of possible cooperation of the parties.
Both days of the event were spent in a good atmosphere, and we gained a lot of useful information and knowledge that can help us in the future in our work on the fields of industrial symbiosis and circular economy.