News

Dear visitor

On 4 October, an incident occurred in which the chimney collapsed. In addition to the buildings, the air purification system was particularly damaged. This has had a major impact on our emissions. During the first few weeks, we cleared the debris with several contractors working simultaneously. The supply and discharge pipes of the gas scrubber
were found to be damaged, but fortunately not the sulphuric acid pipe. The gas scrubber was put back into service during week 44.

In order to repair the damage and limit the impact on emissions as quickly and effectively as possible, a detailed action plan was drawn up and implemented immediately. The work will require a coordinated approach and will continue until the beginning of next year.

Below is an overview of the planned work and the expected impact on emissions, with “+” or “++” indicating the degree of positive impact (= reduction).

We would also like to inform you that although the odour that may be detected can be unpleasant, unlike many other chemical odours, it is not harmful.

Standard

Mix chicken manure with gypsum as soon as possible upon arrival.
Compost in an oxygen-rich environment.
Aerate process water.

--> Reduces the formation of hydrogen sulphide (H2S) and ammonia (NH3). (+)

October 2025

Week 41

Limit the storage of horse manure to a maximum of two weeks.

--> Reduction in odour emissions. (+)

Week 43

Start increasing the frequency of pest control (e.g. rats/flies)

Week 44

Start-up and evaluation of the gas scrubber.

--> Significant reduction in odour. (++)

November 2025

WEAK 45

Hanging windbreaks near bunker 1.

--> Limits the spread of dust and odours from the storage facility. (+)

Repair of sulphuric acid pipe to gas scrubber.
--> Significant reduction in odour. (+)

WEAK 46-47

Preparatory work in the area (straw yard) where the new biofilter will be installed.

December 2025

Further sealing of the gas scrubber.

--> Increases the efficiency of the gas scrubber. (+)

January 2026

Start up of extraction units in raw material sheds.
Hanging wind sails in raw material sheds.
Covering of conveyor belt.

--> Reduction of odour around the sheds. (+)

15 March 2026

Start-up of the biofilter.

--> Significant and structural reduction in odour and emissions. (+++)

April-May 2026

Construction of the shed.

--> Provides permanent enclosure for processing and loading activities.

--> Maximum emission reduction and structural solution. (++)

Windmills at Sterckx

13/03/2014

Actuality

Sterckx invests in two wind turbines. The first one will be installed at our own site, the second in the nearby industrial area “De Pilders”. The wind park will jointly contain five windmills.

The turbines have a hub height of 100 m. The rotor blades have a diameter of 90 m which brings the tip height to 145 m. Each windmill has a power of 2.5 MW. The expected average return is 5,000 MWh per year. Click here for a brief description.

The technicians and fanatic enthusiasts can find a detailed explanation here. The return of the wind turbine on the Sterckx site will be split: 90% of the return will be deployed for own use, 10% will be placed on the public network.

New phase III tunnels in operation in Hungary

15/09/2015

Actuality

In autumn 2015 nine new tunnels became operational in our site in Tôk in Hungary. Each tunnel has a capacity of 200 tons.That brings our total capacity to 700-720 tons of phase III compost per week.

Sterckx acquires Hungarian compost yard

07/08/2013

Did you know

To respond to the growing market of mushrooms compost in Eastern Europe, Karel Sterckx Ltd will soon start to operate from Hungary. Therefore Sterckx found suitable partners in Tony Verhulst and Davy Vanneste. They have extensive experience in domestic and foreign real estate projects.

The newly founded company Sterckx-Verhulst acquired the site of Champignon-Union Kft, a Hungarian compost yard that ceased operations due to lack of succession. The site of 30 ha. currently has a capacity of about 10,000 tons of mushroom compost per year. The group will invest to expand capacity sharply in the coming years.

The plant in Hungary will soon employ app 20 people. Johan Lesage, a former Belgian compost man, and Davy Vanneste will lead Sterckx Hungary as plant manager.

Sterckx also wants to grow at its home basis Roeselare in Belgium in the coming years. Some major investments are planned on the existing site, that currently accounts for 5,000 tons of fresh compost, 2,000 tons of spawn run compost and 1,200 m³ of casing soil per week. One of these days the replacement of the 4 old polyester tunnels by 5 brand new panel tunnels will be completed, what gives an extra 250 tons of phase III compost.

Click here for an interview of Bart Sterckx with the business channel Kanaal Z

Remplacement biofilter

22/06/2015

Actuality

In the summer of 2011, our company NV Karel Sterckx started using a biofilter to put an end to the company’s odour emissions that caused odour complaints mainly to the south of the company.

The biofilter that was installed was a very innovative one. Not only because it was the largest operating filter in Flanders at that time but also because the air distribution across the filter was quite innovative and therefore very even. In order to maintain the high efficiency, the operation of the biofilter was checked each quarter by a specialized company, which also provided advice on any adjustments to be made. This follow-up showed that the filter material is now due for replacement. After four years of proper operation, the material will be excavated and replaced with new material.

In order to reduce the odour emissions during these works, we opt to replace the modular filter in parts. This opportunity will also be used to increase the useful biofilter area with another 750 m². This additional filter capacity will be utilized to purify the process air of two new composting bunkers that are now under construction. These were licensed last year and will be taken into use this autumn.

The company NV Karel Sterckx asks for the understanding of the neighbourhood for this necessary replacement of the biofilm material and for all the possible temporary odour emissions this may entail. We will do everything to make sure the replacement in parts goes as smoothly as possible.

The start of the works is scheduled for Monday 22 June. If everything goes according to plan, these activities will be finished within four weeks, i.e. before the construction leave. This replacement involves a cost of over 200,000 euros.

For further information, please contact Bart Sterckx or Stefaan Hennebel.

Now the expansion of the hall for horse manure comes to completion.

Horse manure hall is enlarged

30/05/2016

For the neighbourhood

This will enable us to store more horse manure and to keep it for a longer time.

Also a sprinkler system has been installed to humidify the horse manure at arrival.
This is especially important in summer when the horse manure arrives dry.

Mushrooms The New Superfood

22/11/2016

Did you know

Over 2.500 different mushrooms grow in the wild aroud the world. This report focuses on the nutritional composition and potential health benefits of the

A. bisporus species, which includes the white mushrooms (button mushrooms, closed cup mushrooms, open cup mushrooms and large flat mushrooms) and the brown mushrooms (also called chestnut, champignon marrom, crimini or portabello mushrooms). It summarises, with accompanying references, some of the key research projects from around the world.A. bisporus is the most extensively cultivated mushroom in the world, accounting for 38 % of the world production of cultivated mushrooms and 95 % of UK sales.

Cultivated mushrooms are readily availbable in either fresh, frozen or canned preparations, however they do not home-freeze successfully. They are often a popular ingredient in many ready prepared foods such as pizzas, casseroles and salads.

Mushrooms are considered part of the fruit and vegetable food group and each serving (80 g is about 14 baby buttons, or 4 large closed cup mushrooms, or a large flat or portabello mushroom, or a handful of sliced mushrooms) counts toward the 5-A-DAY target.

Mushrooms share some of the benefits of fruits and vegetables in that they are low in energy, and are virutally free of fat and sodium. A Bisporus mushrooms are a source of fibre and are fairly rich in vitamins and minerals. They contain an especially high amount of B vitamins and potassium. In addition, they contain other substances that may have potential health benefits and play a role in the prevention of serious diseases.

Find here the full report from Jane Clarke, nutritionist.