Circular EconomyProject Ideas “Circular Economy”

Astrid Severin & Katharina Krell

Varna, Bulgaria11th September 2014

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“Creating markets for recyclables”

• EU Directives: recycle more!• Often: Recyclate of poor quality

– Noone wants to use it!– Down - cycling– Dumping recyclate on landfill / incineration

• Industry is suspicious of recyclables– Is recyclable as good as fresh material?– Does it meet my quality requirements?

Not what we wanted! We want to maintain the value of the raw materials

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“Creating markets for recyclables”

1. Inventory of waste streams– Residential– Commercial and industrial– Construction / bulky

2. Composition analysis– Over 12 months period (variations)

3. Inventory of business raw material needs– Qualitative & quantitative– Specifications for using secondary raw materials?

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“Creating markets for recyclables”

4. Dialogue with recycling companies– Input requirements from waste treatment: optimal

quality and quantity– Output variations to meet industry specifications

5. Design of optimised waste collection and treatment system

6. Preparation of tender documents and regional implementation plans

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“Valorising organic waste”

• Organic waste = 90% water = heavy = transport is expensiveLocal treatment of organic waste is better

• Current local treatment: mostly composting• Organic material contains methane

Capture methane in biogas plant better than letting methane go into atmosphere

1.Pilot local mini-plants for organic waste treatment in participating regions

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“Industrial symbiosis”

• Industrial symbiosis = one company uses the waste / by-products of another company

• Problem: limited matching potential in regions

1.Development of cross-regional portal for selling and buying secondary raw materials “ebay for industrial symbiosis”

2.Becomes nucleus for cross-EU trading of recyclables

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