On Thursday, July 2nd, 2026, second-year students (ASP2º) in the Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering program offered at the Defense University Center at the Spanish Naval Academy (CUD-ENM) visited the facilities of the Galician Environmental Society (SOGAMA), located in Cerceda (A Coruña), accompanied by CUD-ENM professors Ms. Lorena González Gil and Ms. Leticia Pérez Rial.
The activity gave students the opportunity to gain firsthand insight into the operations of the Cerceda Environmental Complex, where municipal waste from 304 municipalities across Galicia is managed, serving a population of more than 2.3 million residents.
During the visit, technical staff from SOGAMA explained the various stages involved in waste reception, internal transport, sorting, and treatment, as well as the technologies used to promote waste recovery and reduce its environmental impact. The group was able to observe how recyclable materials are sorted by type and then sent to the appropriate recycling centers.
The event included an immersive 360° virtual tour and a guided tour of the facilities, during which the students were able to follow the waste’s journey from its arrival at the complex to its final treatment. The materials recovery plant, equipped with Industry 4.0 technology, where potentially recyclable materials are sorted and classified, sparked particular interest.
In addition, the process used for the portion of waste that cannot be recycled was explained; this process produces a waste-derived fuel (WDF). This fuel is then used to generate electricity equivalent to the consumption of 12% of Galician households at a thermoelectric plant.
The activity provided an opportunity to supplement the material covered during their academic training, exposing students to a real-world industrial application related to sustainable waste management, material recovery, energy recovery, and the circular economy.
During the event, SOGAMA President Javier Domínguez Lino stopped by to greet the students and their accompanying teachers and shared a commemorative photo of the visit with them.