Although biological and chemical processes in treatment plants seem to be the primary focus, it has been observed in Turkey and worldwide over the last 20 years that the main issue lies in the disposal of the sludge generated after treatment. The disposal cost of the sludge, which has become the largest issue in treatment plants, accounts for about 30% of the construction cost of wastewater treatment plants and approximately 50% of the operational costs. Reducing the disposal costs of treatment sludge brings both economic and environmental benefits. The most important phase of sludge disposal processes is sludge drying technologies. Sludge drying methods reduce the volume of dewatered sludge by approximately 70%, thus significantly reducing transportation and disposal costs. Dried sludge, considering its characteristics, can be used in the production of building materials, as a refuse-derived fuel (RDF) for energy production, or in applications on soil. This situation has transformed sludge from a problem into a benefit. At REDCO Proses, we have implemented Turkey’s largest solar sludge drying facility, where necessary analyses were carried out, and the required permits for the use of dried sludge in soil were obtained in accordance with regulations, leading the way in soil application. Additionally, we see that dried sludge is being used in different sectors for energy production, either by incineration or as RDF, thus ensuring final disposal. According to the distribution of sludge disposal methods applied in EU member countries, 45% is used in agriculture, 23% in incineration, 18% in landfilling, and 7% in composting.

Among the sludge drying methods, solar sludge drying facilities are an environmentally friendly, sustainable method that requires land space and uses solar radiation while minimizing energy consumption. Thermal drying, on the other hand, is a method that requires external energy or utilizes waste heat in cases where the land area is more limited and consistent drying efficiency is desired throughout the year, without the need for energy consumption in most cases.

In the last 10 years, solar sludge drying facilities have been involved in numerous projects both in Turkey and around the world, due to their low operating costs compared to other drying methods and their sustainability. Recently, EU-funded wastewater treatment plants are being designed and built together with solar sludge drying facilities. Projects like Bismil, Iğdır, Sorgun, Kastamonu, and Niksar, all of which were fully implemented by REDCO Proses, are good examples. The unique feature of the REDCO solar sludge mixer is its ability to continuously and homogenously mix the sludge. This prevents the formation of odors, which is an important issue in sludge drying and disposal, by avoiding the creation of anaerobic conditions.

The REDCO solar sludge mixer removes moisture from the surface of the sludge as quickly as possible, reducing the moisture content and increasing the solid matter ratio of the sludge. At REDCO, based on information such as sludge characteristics, input solid matter ratio, target dryness, sludge volume, and location, each project is specially designed, calculated, and manufactured.

REDCO Proses was founded in 2012 by Korhan Bulut, who has extensive experience in sludge dewatering and drying. Today, it has become a global-scale company with a large engineering team, constantly keeping up with innovations and technologies and integrating them into its facilities and equipment. In 2022, due to an increase in export volume, REDCO organized itself into departments, adding logistics-foreign trade, design, and commissioning-supervision departments in addition to project management and sales departments, while also increasing the number of engineers in these departments, thus raising its employment rate. In 2022 and 2023, the share of exports reached approximately 90% of its turnover. While expanding its team, REDCO continues to operate in accordance with quality and environmental management systems, demonstrating its commitment to corporate identity. As part of its efforts to expand its sales network, REDCO regularly participates in IFAT fairs held in Munich, Germany, and Istanbul, and continues to prepare for sector-related fairs in the Gulf countries and Europe. With feedback received from these fairs, REDCO has signed numerous projects and is at the final stages of many more. At the IFAT Eurasia 2023 Fair held on April 27-29, 2023, REDCO attracted interest not only from public and private companies in Turkey but also from firms in countries like Morocco, Greece, Russia, and Saudi Arabia.

REDCO Proses stands out among its few global competitors with its quality, large workforce, and post-sales support and spare parts supply capabilities. Once the design and manufacturing stages are completed, for a facility that has reached the commissioning phase, REDCO provides training, technical support, and installation services to the operational staff, ensuring technical support during the warranty period.

In recent years, REDCO Proses has increased its reference facilities and contracts in countries like Croatia, Bulgaria, and Morocco. It has also worked in Europe, North Africa, and the Gulf countries, aiming to become a global brand. REDCO has completed and delivered its projects in collaboration with the world’s leading firms in the sector.