WaysTUP! project progress
The WaysTUP! project aims to demonstrate the establishment of new value chains for urban biowaste utilisation to produce higher value purpose products (i.e. biobased products, including food and feed ingredients), through a multi-stakeholder approach in line with circular economy. Identification of opportunities and barriers to utilisation of urban biowaste sources Over the first year of project implementation, the Guidelines for setting up a sampling plan along with a laboratory analysis protocol for the conduction of Waste Analysis Campaigns (WAC) have been defined. Additionally, the first version of compiling a Catalogue of Urban Biowaste and good practices examples has been completed and the first technological solutions for valorisation of the feedstocks used in the project have been determined. Preparation of the PILOTs The first version of the Pilot Plans was prepared early in the project, but it is facing delays in its implementation due to Covid-19 restrictions. Specific issues that were mainly faced over the European lockdown period include delays in construction works, laboratory testings and trials, and delays in feedstock arrival. The Pilot Preparation Plans restarted last July and a 6-month delay in delivering is estimated. Within the next couple of months preparation plans for all pilots will have been finalised. Demonstration of urban biowaste utilisation through PILOTs operation The aim is to practically demonstrate a spectrum of technological solutions for the utilisation of urban biowaste to produce, via sustainable pathways, a portfolio of chemicals and materials. In this frame the Pilot plan execution and monitoring started late this summer, but due to the Covid-19 crisis, each pilot was at a different state of readiness. A behavioural change approach for the collection of urban biowaste and usage of biowaste derived products with citizens & communities The aim is to develop and implement a behavioural change approach with citizens and local communities. The first deliverable has been completed which is relative to the definition of the scope of behavioural change based on the literature review. The main findings focus on the lack of social focus in circular economy which presents challenges in social acceptance and uptake of circular initiatives. Further work on interventions of change for improving the perception and acceptance of users of biowaste derived products and Local Engagement Plans is nonetheless expected to face delays due to the Covid-19 crisis. Evaluation of PILOTs, end-products and new value chains from urban biowaste The relevant work focuses on the evaluation of technical achievements and practical barriers of the project, the characterization of end products and their safety assessment, the evaluation of environmental and economic performance of the developed processes through LCA analysis, and the exploration of the regulatory aspects related to new value chains from urban biowaste. Preparatory planning of the work package is completed, and Covid-19 delays are not expected to have a significant effect on its scheduling as it starts later in the project (early 2021). New business and marketing concepts along the entire value chain from urban biowaste The IPR strategy has already been developed within the first 6 months of the project and will be re-evaluated as the project progresses. The Analysis of market outlook and business models are facing minor delays due to the unprecedented circumstances of the pandemic but are well underway. Policy Implications and Recommendations The overall aim is to support the successful incorporation of integrated system innovation approaches aiming at the valorisation of urban biowaste into existing and future local, national and EU-level policies. The assessment of the policy framework is being elaborated according to the workplan. The plan for the execution of this task has been set and relative desk research has already started.
Keywords
circular economy, biowaste, biowaste utilisation