Textile industry is experiencing rapid growth due to changing consumer and fashion patterns. For example, in 2015, EU citizens bought about 12.66 kg of textile items per person. This generates a large amount of textile waste every year, making impact on environment and human health. Therefore, targets in European Union and national level are being set to reduce the amount of textile waste going to landfill. To achieve them, it is necessary to recycle textile waste into new products. The aim of the article is to research possible solutions for textile waste recycling, including the example of Estonia, as well as to create an engineering solution for textile waste recycling in Latvia to achieve goals of Directive (EU) 2018/851.
On 15 September, 2018, volunteers and partners worldwide came together to clean the beaches, rivers, forests, and streets of our planet from litter and mismanaged waste. In total, 17 million people from 158 countries participated. The 'Let's Do it' (LDI) movement was born 10 years ago in Estonia, when 4% of the population joined together to clean the entire country from illegally dumped waste. This captured the imaginations of people worldwide, and led to the idea of cleaning up the entire world. This article describes how the global bottom-up civic movement, Let's Do It! World, has grown to be the biggest of its kind in the world, and the way it contributes to addressing some of major environmental issues of today, such as marine litter and shifting to a Circular Economy. The structure of the movement, and the expected effect of main messages is discussed – see it, map it, bag it, move it, learn. Any kind of waste clean-up action is one-time event. As such, it's not a final solution in itself. The ultimate goal would be contributing to long-term effects and solutions. In this respect, the key benefit of cleanups is 3-fold: it helps fighting the "trash blindness", making people aware of the problem; it feeds into "Citizen Science", i.e. science that builds on data and info gathered by ordinary people: during cleanups and related mapping of trash points, not only do we pick litter, but also we collect valuable information on most common type of litter, related dynamics of dispersion, typology of materials that need targeted policies and practice in order to prevent dispersion and promote better management; and it keeps the issue high on the agenda for media and policy, thereby drawing attention by all concerned actors, as governmental institutions, communities, businesses and industry, civil society and individuals. This is the best precondition in order to define a concerted "roadmap" so as to have the issues around trash and litter sorted out, for good. To achieve that, the Knowledge Team of LDI developed a Keep It Clean Plan, whose key message is to implement strategies, inspired by the "Zero Waste" vision and approach, for sustainable management of resources and discarded materials, harnessing the power of redesigning materials and systems, so as to connect to Circular Economy and prevent waste from being dispersed into the environment. ; On 15 September, 2018, volunteers and partners worldwide came together to clean the beaches, rivers, forests, and streets of our planet from litter and mismanaged waste. In total, 17 million people from 158 countries participated. The 'Let's Do it' (LDI) movement was born 10 years ago in Estonia, when 4% of the population joined together to clean the entire country from illegally dumped waste. This captured the imaginations of people worldwide, and led to the idea of cleaning up the entire world. This article describes how the global bottom-up civic movement, Let's Do It! World, has grown to be the biggest of its kind in the world, and the way it contributes to addressing some of major environmental issues of today, such as marine litter and shifting to a Circular Economy. The structure of the movement, and the expected effect of main messages is discussed – see it, map it, bag it, move it, learn. Any kind of waste clean-up action is one-time event. As such, it's not a final solution in itself. The ultimate goal would be contributing to long-term effects and solutions. In this respect, the key benefit of cleanups is 3-fold: it helps fighting the "trash blindness", making people aware of the problem; it feeds into "Citizen Science", i.e. science that builds on data and info gathered by ordinary people: during cleanups and related mapping of trash points, not only do we pick litter, but also we collect valuable information on most common type of litter, related dynamics of dispersion, typology of materials that need targeted policies and practice in order to prevent dispersion and promote better management; and it keeps the issue high on the agenda for media and policy, thereby drawing attention by all concerned actors, as governmental institutions, communities, businesses and industry, civil society and individuals. This is the best precondition in order to define a concerted "roadmap" so as to have the issues around trash and litter sorted out, for good. To achieve that, the Knowledge Team of LDI developed a Keep It Clean Plan, whose key message is to implement strategies, inspired by the "Zero Waste" vision and approach, for sustainable management of resources and discarded materials, harnessing the power of redesigning materials and systems, so as to connect to Circular Economy and prevent waste from being dispersed into the environment.
In industrialized society, large amounts of oily sediments from contaminated sites as well asoily sludge from industrial processes need to be treated in sustainable way. Nowadaysbiological treatment is becoming more important. The purpose of biotreatment is to decreasethe concentration of organic pollutants (e.g. oil) in soil or compost by mineralizing hazardouschemicals into harmless compounds such as carbon dioxide or some other gas or inorganicsubstance, water, and cell material. Whereas hydrocarbons are generally well degradable,some organic compounds (e.g. PAH) are less degradable; and some (heavy metals) can not bedegraded. However, resistant compounds can be transformed through sorption, methylation,and complexation, and change in valence state, which affect mobility and bioavailability. Theuse of oil-compost depends on legislative limits, and response of vegetation. Oil-content mayhave a negative effect on plant root system even in low concentrations. Heavy metals mayinhibit the growth, but in the other hand, the plants are also known in uptaking heavy metalsand other contaminants, known as phytoremediation. This may create a situation, wherevegetation cover acts as additional treatment system for matured oil-composts. The objectiveof this study was to examine the effect of hydrocarbon residues in different substances(compost and soil mixtures) on soil model plants (Raphanus sativus) germination andphytomass production. The germination study demonstrated that the plants germination andbiomass production was highly dependent on compost decomposition degree, nutrient contentand biological properties of soil. On less matured compost, the germination and growth wassuppressed. The phytomass production experiment showed that plants in oil compost haddecreased height, taproot mass and above ground phytomass. The application of complexmineral fertilizers increased the volume of abovementioned parameters. ; In industrialized society, large amounts of oily sediments from contaminated sites as well asoily sludge from industrial processes need to be treated in sustainable way. Nowadaysbiological treatment is becoming more important. The purpose of biotreatment is to decreasethe concentration of organic pollutants (e.g. oil) in soil or compost by mineralizing hazardouschemicals into harmless compounds such as carbon dioxide or some other gas or inorganicsubstance, water, and cell material. Whereas hydrocarbons are generally well degradable,some organic compounds (e.g. PAH) are less degradable; and some (heavy metals) can not bedegraded. However, resistant compounds can be transformed through sorption, methylation,and complexation, and change in valence state, which affect mobility and bioavailability. Theuse of oil-compost depends on legislative limits, and response of vegetation. Oil-content mayhave a negative effect on plant root system even in low concentrations. Heavy metals mayinhibit the growth, but in the other hand, the plants are also known in uptaking heavy metalsand other contaminants, known as phytoremediation. This may create a situation, wherevegetation cover acts as additional treatment system for matured oil-composts. The objectiveof this study was to examine the effect of hydrocarbon residues in different substances(compost and soil mixtures) on soil model plants (Raphanus sativus) germination andphytomass production. The germination study demonstrated that the plants germination andbiomass production was highly dependent on compost decomposition degree, nutrient contentand biological properties of soil. On less matured compost, the germination and growth wassuppressed. The phytomass production experiment showed that plants in oil compost haddecreased height, taproot mass and above ground phytomass. The application of complexmineral fertilizers increased the volume of abovementioned parameters.
A landfill is a large bioreactor, in the body of which landfill gas is generated due to anaerobic degradation of organic material. According to European legislation, the emissions of the landfill gas should be kept to a minimum. With large volumes, gas can be used for energy production, but if the collection is uneconomic, an attractive option would be to cover the landfill with a bioactive layer to degrade methane in-situ. In operational Uikala sanitary landfill, Estonia, where active gas collection system exists, it was found that uncaptured gas could be degraded in bioactive cover layer. To check whether such cover layer could be built from fine fraction from mechanical biological treatment (MBT), two experimental cells were constructed (0-20 mm and 0-40 mm fractions). The paper presents the design of experimental cells, a description of materials for construction and construction process, and preliminary results. Measurement system was installed in both cells: gas wells at eight depths and on three locations on surface. Three-level lysimeters were installed to determine water balance. Research is planned for two years with monthly gas sampling. The objective of the work is proving which of the MBT fractions, ˂20 or ˂40 mm, functions better for methane degradation. Confirmation of the methane degradation efficiency in fine MBT fraction is important not only from the ecological point of view. The use of a fine fraction as a material for methane degradation layer would reduce the cost of processing this fraction and become a good example of a circular economy since the landfill would be recultivated using its own resources. ; A landfill is a large bioreactor, in the body of which landfill gas is generated due to anaerobic degradation of organic material. According to European legislation, the emissions of the landfill gas should be kept to a minimum. With large volumes, gas can be used for energy production, but if the collection is uneconomic, an attractive option would be to cover the landfill with a bioactive layer to degrade methane in-situ. In operational Uikala sanitary landfill, Estonia, where active gas collection system exists, it was found that uncaptured gas could be degraded in bioactive cover layer. To check whether such cover layer could be built from fine fraction from mechanical biological treatment (MBT), two experimental cells were constructed (0-20 mm and 0-40 mm fractions). The paper presents the design of experimental cells, a description of materials for construction and construction process, and preliminary results. Measurement system was installed in both cells: gas wells at eight depths and on three locations on surface. Three-level lysimeters were installed to determine water balance. Research is planned for two years with monthly gas sampling. The objective of the work is proving which of the MBT fractions, ˂20 or ˂40 mm, functions better for methane degradation. Confirmation of the methane degradation efficiency in fine MBT fraction is important not only from the ecological point of view. The use of a fine fraction as a material for methane degradation layer would reduce the cost of processing this fraction and become a good example of a circular economy since the landfill would be recultivated using its own resources.
For the next century to come, one of the biggest challenges is to provide the mankind with relevant and sufficient resources. Recovery of secondary resources plays a significant role. Industrial processes developed to regain minerals for commodity production in a circular economy become ever more important in the European Union and worldwide. Landfill mining (LFM) constitutes an important technological toolset of processes that regain resources and redistribute them with an accompanying reduction of hazardous influence of environmental contamination and other threats for human health hidden in former dump sites and landfills. This review paper is devoted to LFM problems, historical development and driving paradigms of LFM from 'classical hunting for valuables' to 'perspective in ecosystem revitalization'. The main goal is to provide a description of historical experience and link it to more advanced concept of a circular economy. The challenge is to adapt the existing knowledge to make decisions in accordance with both, economic feasibility and ecosystems revitalization aspects. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
The traditional mining sector uses resource assessments to estimate the mineability of natural resources. The results are communicated to investors, authorities and corporate management boards in a standardized manner, at least on a country level. The recycling sector also requires estimates of recoverable anthropogenic resources. Evidence-based resource assessment, including the selection of parameters for characterising resources and methods for assessing their recoverability, is essential to obtain comparable estimates over time and across scales. Within this report, the COST Action MINEA presents a practical and user-friendly knowledge base for facilitating anthropogenic resource assessments. The fouces is on extractives industry residues, residues in landfills, residues from municipal solid waste incineration as well as construction & demolition waste flows. The key objectives are: To relate current knowledge levels, gaps and future needs to assessments of viability of anthropogenic resource recovery. To review case studies that demonstrate anthropogenic resource assessment in combination with resource classification in order to communicate the viability of anthropogenic resource recovery. We encourage academics, businesses and government organisations to use this report for: designing and developing case studies, future planning, developing standards for characterizing resource quantities and evaluating their recoverability, and collecting and harmonizing resource statistics. ************* The "Mining the European Anthroposphere" (MINEA) is a pan-European expert network, which received funding from the COST Association between 2016 and 2020. The network pools knowledge for estimating the future recoverability of raw materials from anthropogenic resources.
Biomass is defined as organic matter from living organisms represented in all kingdoms. It is recognized to be an excellent source of proteins, polysaccharides and lipids and, as such, embodies a tailored feedstock for new products and processes to apply in green industries. The industrial processes focused on the valorization of terrestrial biomass are well established, but marine sources still represent an untapped resource. Oceans and seas occupy over 70% of the Earth's surface and are used intensively in worldwide economies through the fishery industry, as logistical routes, for mining ores and exploitation of fossil fuels, among others. All these activities produce waste. The other source of unused biomass derives from the beach wrack or washed-ashore organic material, especially in highly eutrophicated marine ecosystems. The development of high-added-value products from these side streams has been given priority in recent years due to the detection of a broad range of biopolymers, multiple nutrients and functional compounds that could find applications for human consumption or use in livestock/pet food, pharmaceutical and other industries. This review comprises a broad thematic approach in marine waste valorization, addressing the main achievements in marine biotechnology for advancing the circular economy, ranging from bioremediation applications for pollution treatment to energy and valorization for biomedical applications. It also includes a broad overview of the valorization of side streams in three selected case study areas: Norway, Scotland, and the Baltic Sea. ; This publication is based upon work from COST Action CA18238 (Ocean4Biotech), supported by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology). AR and KK: this research was funded by the Slovenian Research Agency (research core funding P1-0245 and P1-0237). AR: this publication has been produced with financial assistance of the Interreg MED Programme, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (Project No. 8MED20_4.1_SP_001, internal ref. 8MED20_4.1_SP_001) – B-Blue project. SG, CT, and JO: this work is financed by national funds from FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., in the scope of the project UIDP/04378/2020 and UIDB/04378/2020 of the Research Unit on Applied Molecular Biosciences - UCIBIO and the project LA/P/0140/2020 of the Associate Laboratory Institute for Health and Bioeconomy – i4HB. JaB and WH: the preparation of the manuscript was supported by the Project CONTRA (Conversion of a Nuisance to a Resource and Asset #R090, 2018–2021) of the INTERREG Baltic Sea Region Program, and Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education from the 2019–2021 science funding allocated for the implementation of international co-financed project W24/INTERREG BSR/2019. Research of Maris Klavins, VB, and LA was supported by ERDF project 1.1.1.1/16/A/050 "Variable fuel gasification for municipal solid waste recovery." MC acknowledges the funding from CEEC program supported by FCT/MCTES (CEECIND/02968/2017) and Strategic Funding UIDB/04423/2020 and UIDP/04423/2020 supported by national funds provided by FCT and ERDF. AD acknowledges financial support provided by European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the grant agreement No 857287 and Latvian Council of Science research project No. lzp-2020/1-0054. MKa: the Interreg LAT_LIT Programme, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (LLI-525 ESMIC). LB acknowledges the funding from Erasmus + Project No. ECOBIAS 609967-EPP-1-2019-1-RS-EPPKA2-CBHE-JP; GA.2019-1991/001-001. Development of master curricula in ecological monitoring and aquatic bioassessment for Western Balkans HEIs/ECOBIAS. IS and KP acknowledge financial support provided by the projects CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/17_048/0007323 and CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/16_019/0000754 (Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic). ZV-G acknowledges support within the project No.1.1.1.2/VIAA/1/16/029 (Formula of peat-free soil conditioner with controlled-release fertilizing effect applicable for soil remediation and quality improvement of agricultural production). IZ: the projects SLTKT20427, KIK 17431 and SARASWATI 2.0. JuB: the project No.1.1.1.2/VIAA/3/19/531 (Innovative technologies for stabilization of landfills – diminishing of environmental impact and resources potential in frames of circular economy). The work conducted by CR, LA-H, and MA was fully financed by Møreforsking AS. ; Peer reviewed
