SAKO Brno and EKOFILM = energy for people, the city, and the planet.

How does waste management work in a city that always aims to stay one step ahead? How many vehicles are needed each day to keep Brno clean? And did you know that waste collection can be quiet, electric, and sustainable?  We discussed all of this with Ing. Daniel Struž, Vice-Chairman of the Board of SAKO Brno, a long-term partner of the EKOFILM festival. Together, we give meaning to a world that isn’t disposable.

How many collection vehicles does a city the size of Brno need?
Overall, we operate over a hundred collection vehicles, trucks, and vans for different types of waste. Specifically for street waste collection, there are sixty vehicles in use.
Thirty vehicles are assigned to collect mixed municipal waste from residents and businesses, 25 handle sorted waste, and we also operate two mobile bin washers, a mobile workshop, and various specialized vehicles.

For example?
SAKO Brno was the first company in the Czech Republic to acquire a fully electric collection vehicle. Its advantages are a completely silent operation and the fact that our Waste-to-Energy Facility generates electricity, meaning the “fuel” for our electric vehicle is practically free. We are very satisfied with our electric collection vehicle and plan to expand our electric fleet next year. Beyond street waste collection, we also provide services for other types of waste. Our fleet includes vehicles for all kinds of collection: food waste, industrial waste, sorted and mixed municipal waste, hazardous waste, and even medical waste. Comprehensive waste collection for Brno’s residents and businesses is one of our core services, alongside waste processing. And for a city of 400,000 people, a high-quality fleet is essential.

How often are the vehicles serviced?
All our vehicles undergo regular authorized servicing. For post-warranty repairs, our Collection Division has fully equipped workshops capable of routine and moderately complex repairs. In addition, we follow a regular fleet renewal schedule. Over the past few years, we have managed to reduce the average age of our vehicles to under five years. SAKO Brno’s collection technology is state-of-the-art. All vehicles are equipped with mandated safety features, sensors, assistants, cameras, and GPS locators, allowing immediate communication with our dispatch. A quick note on GPS: it provides real-time information about collection in any area of the city, enabling us to respond flexibly and optimize routes and collection schedules.

I imagine the collection schedule must be quite complex…
The schedule must be precise for every location at any time. Bins and containers must not overflow, but you also shouldn’t collect empty space. Each container must match local waste production, and collection frequency must be balanced for each area. Some areas need sorted waste collection only twice a week, while in locations with large underground containers, collection occurs up to seven times a week.

I’ve seen underground container emptying. How does that work?
A truck with a hydraulic arm lifts the underground container above the truck and empties it. Over 50 underground and semi-underground containers in Brno are serviced this way. Last year, we also acquired a vehicle with an integrated hydraulic lifting arm. This system differs from conventional large-volume container collection because it can compress the waste, resulting in at least three times the time and fuel efficiency.

Has the design and technology of collection vehicles improved over time?
Yes, technology and vehicle design have continually improved (just compare photos from 15 years ago), although bin shapes have remained largely unchanged. Improvements have also been made to container stations: the old galvanized, heavy, gray bins for mixed waste are gone, the unattractive wire mesh bins for plastics have disappeared, and colorful containers for sorted waste have been upgraded. There’s no need for a “popelnicový smog” (bin smog) with jumbled colors. We are standardizing the appearance of bins: all bodies will be sleek black, with lids color-coded — blue for paper, yellow for plastics, beverage cartons, and metals, brown for bio-waste.

And what about red or gray bins?
You won’t find these in Brno. They aren’t needed. The city’s sorted waste system efficiently uses 35 collection yards and automated sorting lines. Residents can access most yards within walking distance. Tetra Pak and metal waste, including cans, go into yellow bins. Optical, ballistic, and magnetic separators then reliably sort plastics and metals.

How is “bin smog” being reduced?
By standardizing bin colors, increasing container capacity, and redesigning the areas where bins are located. Brno, in cooperation with the City Architect’s Office, has developed the “Standard for Permanent Container Stations for Municipal Waste.” Alongside architects, the project involved the Environmental Department and SAKO Brno staff. The resulting study defines optimal station placement, bin enclosures, green integration, accessibility, and architectural harmony. The goal is for waste stations to blend into the city while enhancing its quality and residents’ comfort.