Sludge Watch ==> Hollywood Florida - City Commissioner paid by Sludge Processor?

[Maureen Reilly]

Schwing Bioset firm processes cities' sludge

By Joseph Mann
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Posted October 11 2006


Schwing Bioset Inc., a relatively unknown company in South Florida, sells 
municipal governments systems for converting wastewater and sewage into 
"biosolids" that can be recycled and used as fertilizers.

The company made the news Tuesday when Hollywood City Commissioner Keith 
Wasserstrom was arrested on charges that he cut a deal to to help the firm 
win an $18 million public works contract with the city.



Company officials could not be reached for comment.

Schwing Bioset, which bills itself as a leader in "sludge pump technology," 
is part of a German-based group that makes specialized pumps and equipment 
used in wastewater treatment plants, mines, power plants, dredging, oil 
refineries and other industrial applications.

Schwing Bioset, which also provides engineering and technological services 
to customers, takes its name from the founder of the parent company, Schwing 
Gmbh, Friedrich W. Schwing, and the concern's trademark Bioset process, 
according to the company's Web site.

In this process, the company says it adds lime and powdered acid to sludge, 
cooks and pressurizes the mixture and then obtains a smaller volume of 
sterilized sludge.

This processed sludge can then be recycled into fertilizer.

Schwing Bioset has a branch office in Tampa and other offices in California, 
Connecticut and Texas.

Figures on Schwing Bioset's sales, revenues, workforce or other contracts 
were not available to the public, since the company is privately owned.

Joseph Mann can be reached at jmann at sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4665.



http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-zschwing11oct11,0,6670125.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines