REsources from URban BIo-waSte
RES URBIS aims at making it possible to convert several types of urban bio-waste into valuable bio-based products, in an integrated single bio-waste bio-refinery and by using one main technology chain. This goal will be pursued through:
- Collection and analysis of data on urban bio-waste production and present management systems in four territorial clusters that have been selected in different countries and have different characteristics.
- Well-targeted experimental activity to solve a number of open technical issues (both process- and product-related), by using the appropriate combination of innovative and catalogue-proven technologies.
- Market analysis within several economic scenarios and business models for full exploitation of bio-based products (including a path forward to fill regulatory gaps).
Urban bio-waste include the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (from households, restaurants, caterers and retail premises), excess sludge from urban wastewater treatment, garden and parks waste, selected waste from food-processing (if better recycling options in the food chain are not available), other selected waste streams, i.e. baby nappies.
Bio-based products include polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) and related PHA-based bioplastics as well as ancillary productions: bio-solvents (to be used in PHA extraction) and fibers (to be used for PHA bio-composites).
Territorial and economic analyses will be done either considering the ex-novo implementation of the bio-waste bio-refinery or its integration into existing wastewater treatment or anaerobic digestion plants, with reference to clusters and for different production size. The economic analysis will be based on a portfolio of PHA-based bioplastics, which will be produced at pilot scale and tested for applications for biodegradable commodity film, packaging interlayer film, specialty durables (such as electronics), premium slow C-release material for ground water remediation.
The project will last from 1st of January 2017 to 31st of December 2019, involving 21 participants from 8 European countries. Total cost of the project is EUR3 377 915, with EUR2 996 688, 75 of EU contribution.
