VALUEWASTE

The VALUEWASTE project proposes an integrated approach to the valorization of urban organic waste for the production of high-value bio-based products. In the course of the project, the development of the first complete solution for the full recovery of biowaste will be carried out, which can be replicated throughout Europe.

ITA’s role in the VALUEWASTE project will be, mainly, to work on the integration of the three different valorization lines developed during the project in a single continuous process to obtain high value products from urban organic waste.

The project started in November 2018, has a duration of 4 years and brings together 17 partners from 6 different countries.

Problem

Its objective is to valorize urban bio-waste into new ingredients that can be reused, with the participation and commitment of citizens and consumers, which is key to achieving a more sustainable Europe where the reduction, reuse and recycling of resources is a priority.

The VALUEWASTE project is an EU initiative that offers a sustainable and integrated system of technologies for the transformation of the organic fraction of biowaste, produced in cities across Europe, into high-value ingredients demanded by the population. It encourages the adoption of circular practices, contributing to self-sufficiency in EU food and feed production while reducing the generation of bio-waste, which is produced between 118 and 138 million tons annually in the EU.

Results

The Murcia plant, which began operations and testing in November 2020, operates as follows. First, organic waste from the brown garbage cans installed by FERROVIAL in the neighborhood of La Flota (Murcia, Spain) arrives at the VALUEWASTE pilot plant. There, mechanical pretreatment begins: first, the organic waste is moved through different mechanisms that separate any remaining plastic or metal from the organic waste. The organic matter then passes into a digester (a closed, impermeable cylindrical vessel) installed by INDEREN, and is mixed with water. Thanks to the anaerobic fermentation of microorganisms, the following is obtained: biogas, with a high methane content; and a wet digestate, which is subjected to a subsequent dehydration treatment using technologies designed by EKOBALANS, obtaining two fractions: a solid and a liquid one.

This is the starting point for the 3 lines of valorization of the VALUEWASTE project:

• Valorization of biowaste into food and feed ingredients through methanotrophic bacteria that feed on the biogas obtained. Currently, the biogas produced at the VALUEWASTE plant is used to produce heat for plant operations. The line of work itself is being developed in Kalundborg (Denmark), where the company UNIBIO is producing new protein ingredients with great potential, as demonstrated by the safety and application tests carried out by GAIKER.
• Valorization of biowaste in food and feed ingredients through insects feeding on the solid digestate. Once treated, the solid digestate is taken to a pilot black soldier fly rearing unit designed and installed by ENTOMO AGROINDUSTRIAL, which produces dried larvae. Subsequently, these are transformed into flour with a high protein content.
• Valorization of biowaste in biofertilizers through the treatment of liquid digestate. The treatment of the liquid fraction of the digestate involves technologies developed and installed by NURESYS and EKOBALANS. From this treatment the pilot plant obtains struvite and ammonium sulfate, an organic-mineral fertilizer.

ITA’s role in the VALUEWASTE project has been, mainly, to work on the integration of the three different valorization lines developed during the project in a single continuous process to obtain high value products from urban organic waste.