Frequently Asked Questions

Envac’s Automatic Waste Collection System, or AWCS, is a pneumatic waste collection system that transports waste through an underground pipe network using vacuum technology. Users deposit waste into inlets, and the waste is moved to a central collection terminal where it is compacted and stored for onward collection.

Envac introduced the world’s first vacuum waste system at Sollefteå Hospital in Sweden in 1961. The company is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, and operates internationally in over 40 countries.

Envac systems are used by households, mixed-use developments, offices, retail users, restaurants, hospitals, airports, public spaces, and commercial operators.

Envac operates more than 1,300 installations across more than 40 countries and six continents, serving over 7,4 million daily users.

Unlike conventional waste collection, Envac removes routine manual bin collection from the serviced area. Waste is transported underground to a central terminal, reducing truck traffic, improving hygiene, reducing odour and pests, and freeing up above-ground space.

Yes. Envac can be installed in existing developments, often through outdoor inlets or by connecting existing waste chutes to the pipe system, where technically feasible.

Yes. It often makes sense to install Envac pipes when streets are already open for other underground infrastructure works.

Pipes are generally buried 1–2.5 metres below street level, while locations with waste collection inlets are normally 1.5–2.5 metres deep.

Yes. Envac pipes can be installed below the water table when protected with suitable external coating and engineering measures. Some installations below the water table were built more than twenty years ago and remain in good condition.

Yes. Envac has several installations where pipes are installed directly in water, including at the Lisbon Waterfront.

Yes, but local expertise and site-specific design are required. There are installations at the Taipei Financial Centre in Taiwan and at the Burbank, California, location to support the design.

Anything more than 200 dwellings makes it economically sensible to consider a stationary Envac system. It also depends on local conditions and regulations; this number can change significantly in those cases.

Yes. Envac systems can be built in phases, allowing cities and developments to start with one area and expand later.

Most blockages are solved remotely through the control system. In very few cases, manual intervention is required to clear the blockage.

The control system generates an alarm when an inlet or valve is blocked. In many cases, the operator can solve the issue remotely from the office. For instance, the Envac ReFlow application has a reporting function that triggers an alarm from the user and quick action is taken remotely.

No special bags are needed for most ordinary waste. Special bags may be required for specific fractions, such as organic waste destined for composting or biogas production, depending on local municipality rules.

Envac terminals can be equipped with autonomous electrical generators. The inlets generally do not require electrical power at the inlet point in the standard system.

Envac offers long-term service agreements that support proper operation by trained Envac staff.

No, the system is designed to operate automatically.

Usually not. The waste flow cleans the pipes sufficiently for most applications, although wet or sticky waste may require periodic cleaning with a cleaning buoy.

With proper maintenance, Envac systems can operate for several decades. The first vacuum waste system installed at Sollefteå Hospital in 1961 remains operational

Envac ReFlow is a digital platform that connects residents, system operators, property owners, and municipalities to improve waste management and recycling. It can provide sorting guidance, recycling feedback, real-time waste tracking, and system performance data.

The Envac Automation Platform is the intelligent control system used to manage automated waste collection. It is providing real-time data, predictive analytics, automated optimisation, reduced power consumption, and high system uptime.

Depending on system configuration, Envac can collect data on waste volumes, system performance, energy consumption, waste fractions, recycling trends, and household-level activity when RFID access is used.

Data protection depends on the market and system setup. For European projects, personal data is managed in accordance with GDPR and local data protection rules.

Common KPIs include recycling rates, CO₂ emissions avoided, energy consumption per tonne, system uptime, user satisfaction, and waste generation per household.

The Envac Automation Platform is available to operators and authorised stakeholders, while some municipalities may choose to make selected metrics public.

Yes. The inlets are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

One inlet point typically serves 40–80 households, with the possibility of up to 200 households, depending on waste volume, walking distance, storage capacity, and the system design.

Residential bags are usually 10–30 litres, while commercial bags can be up to 120 litres.

Yes, residential inlets are designed to eliminate the risk of children entering the system. Openings larger than 300 mm are generally not recommended for residential areas with unlimited access.

Envac can improve accessibility by reducing the need to carry waste downstairs, wheel bins to the kerb, or follow collection schedules.

The system produces minimal above-ground noise, and the most noticeable sound is a brief burst of airflow when the inlet valve opens.

Each household can receive an RFID card that grants access to waste inlets. When used, the system can record the deposit for PAYT billing and recycling analytics, depending on local configuration.

In hospitals, Envac can transport general waste, kitchen waste, soiled linen, and infectious waste from load stations on each floor through sealed pipes to a central collection point. This reduces manual handling by carts or trolleys and supports improved hygiene.

Yes. Envac’s Infectious Waste Collection system enables near-source disposal and enclosed pipe transport to an on-site treatment facility, converting infectious waste into non-hazardous waste.

Envac technology is installed in more than 180 hospitals worldwide.

Key hospital benefits include reduced manual waste transport, improved hygiene, safer handling of infectious waste, lower operational costs, improved staff productivity, and reduced movement of waste through patient areas.

Glass and metal packaging in smaller amounts can be collected as general waste, while e-waste, hazardous chemicals, and oversized items require separate collection.