TORWASH

Torwash is a Dutch startup and TNO spin-off pioneering advanced waste valorization through its patented hydrothermal processing technology. Founded in 2020 by Pavlina Nanou, Jan Pels, and Levien de Legé, Torwash targets challenging wet waste streams-such as sewage sludge, wet agro-residues, and mixed plastics-that are typically costly and difficult to process. Instead of treating these materials as waste, Torwash transforms them into valuable products including biofuel, biogas, fertilizers, and raw materials for new plastics.

The core of Torwash’s technology is a high-pressure, high-temperature process that dewaters sludge and organic waste without chemical additives. This results in a much drier end product, reducing waste volume by up to 85% and significantly lowering transport and disposal costs. The process also enables the recovery of phosphates and the production of clean fuel pellets, while the remaining liquid can be fermented into biogas, creating multiple revenue streams from what was previously a costly waste problem.

Torwash offers three main solutions:

TORWASH-for-Sludge: Energy-neutral dewatering of sewage sludge, producing biofuel and recovering phosphates.

TORWASH-for-Agro: Conversion of wet grass, straw, or aquatic plants into high-quality biofuels.

TORWASH-for-Plastics: Depolymerization and recycling of biodegradable plastics like PLA, returning them to monomers for new plastic production.

The company has demonstrated its technology at multiple wastewater treatment plants, including a large pilot at Land van Cuijk, and is now scaling up to commercial installations. Its modular system design allows flexible integration into existing waste management operations, supporting continuous plant operation and easy capacity expansion.

Torwash’s approach addresses both environmental and economic challenges, offering a sustainable alternative to incineration and landfill while contributing to circular economy goals. The company aims to have its first commercial wastewater treatment system operational by the end of 2026 and is actively pursuing international expansion.

Keywords:

waste valorization, hydrothermal processing, sewage sludge, biogas, biofuel, circular economy, TNO spin-off, sustainable waste management, dewatering technology, biodegradable plastics recycling, phosphate recovery, modular reactors, agro-residues, climate impact reduction, resource recovery