Energising Waste

It was fitting, given the nature of the subject being discussed, that a blend of experts from industry and research environments gathered among the wetlands and open spaces of a European Green Capital. Vitoria-Gasteiz is something of a beacon of environmentally-conscious living in the heart of Spain’s Basque Country. It is also one which boasts 42 square meters of green areas per habitant and is working hard to improve the selective collection of municipal waste.

Organisers chose the Europa Palace Conference Centre, itself reputed as an icon of green architecture, as the venue for the swansong conference for a movement deigned to fast-forward thinking on how to create an Urban Circular Bioeconomy. Speakers shared their knowledge on how to transform biowaste into a broad range of what were called “valuable resources” after an inspiring opening address in which the city’s own organic waste management infrastructure and recycling goals were outlined.

Susann Günther, who is from DBFZ, the Leipzig-based Biomass Research Centre, explained just how potential biogenic resources were being monitored, Stef Denayer introduced the Tech4Biowaste database of technologies and providers and DECHEMA’s Esther Hegel spoke on the impact and markets of biowaste-derived materials.

In summary, the event was an opportunity to discuss new findings, different approaches and current challenges of biowaste upcycling - a comprehensive overview of a topic of emerging importance and intended to celebrate three years of CAFIPLA, a 12-partner project designed to drive a new integrated platform for the economic conversion of biowaste. It was an important initiative. Bio-waste — mainly leftover food and garden products — is a key waste stream with a high potential for contributing to a more circular economy, delivering everything from fertiliser to biogas, a source of renewable energy.

It was also timely, given that European circular economy and waste policies are now increasingly addressing biowaste as one of several key waste streams. These include new targets for the recycling and preparing for the reuse of municipal waste and an obligation for separate collection for bio-waste. EU Member States have to monitor the food waste generation and to also have food waste prevention programmes, supporting goals to halve it by 2030. Bio-waste accounts for more than a third of the municipal solid waste generated, amounting, according to the most recent figures, to 86 million tonnes in member states. Its recycling has therefore become a crucial element in meeting the EU target to recycle 65 per cent of municipal waste by 2035.

The level of separate bio-waste collection differs considerably across Europe. Many countries are far from capturing its full potential. Implementing a separate bio-waste collection system can be a lengthy and complex process. It needs a comprehensive and co-ordinated policy framework embedding a bio-waste strategy into broader waste and circular economy strategies.

The CAFIPLA project was supported by a pan-European consortium of research institutes, universities and businesses who brought a blend of academic and professional experience. A significant milestone came last year when the consortium’s pilot plant, known as the Loop, successfully processed its first batch of biowaste in Tenneville, Belgium, setting a significant marker in terms of gathering the sort of data required for further expansion to industrial scale.