A sizeable category in terms of organic content within the municipal solid waste (MSW) is represented by AHP waste (e.g. nappies, adult incontinence products, feminine hygiene items, wipes, etc.), which is currently considered as non-recyclable fraction of MSW and finds its way to landfills or incineration, leading to important environmental concerns. Each year 8 500 000 tonnes of such waste are incinerated or landfilled in Europe (the equivalent of almost 30 landfills every year), and over 30 000 000 tonnes in the world. AHPs are mainly composed of a mix of natural fibres (cellulose) and polymers (PP/PE and SAP) – valuable materials that currently don’t find a proper valorisation.

This innovative biorefinery model will involve all the main actors of the whole value chain, from AHP consumers and local population to waste management and logistic companies, leading AHP producers and bioprocess developers, as well as final products developers. In a view of circular economy, all the fractions obtained from the processed AHP waste will be reused through valorisation into final products and, in particular, the high-quality cellulosic fraction of AHP (ca. 1 275 000 tonnes per year in Europe), which has significant advantages compared to traditional second generation lignocellulosic feedstocks in terms of homogeneity and downstream bioprocessing costs. These will be converted and valorised in two parallel value chains, leading to the production of biobased building blocks, polymers and fertilisers.

The project aims to deliver high-quality products that can be easily commercialised in accordance with EU standards concerning the biodegradability and compostability. The project will validate valorisation of all the fractions from the process to obtain marketable end products fully competitive in terms of cost, quality and sustainability.

This includes medical devices from biobased polymers, plastic bins and detergent cups from recycled plastic, absorbent underpads from SAP, packaging applications from biobased polyesters and organic fertilisers from fermentation by-products. The project is relevant to cities and regions that are working on a Circular Systemic Solution in bioeconomy and urban waste and are looking for solutions to valorise AHP waste (which is currently considered a non-recyclable fraction of the MSW) and create value across sectors and value chains.

Programme:

• H2020-EU.3.2. - SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine, maritime and inland water research, and the bioeconomy

Topic:

• BBI-2016-D06 - Valorisation of the organic content of Municipal Solid Waste and contributing to the renewable circular economy

Fater S.p.A.
Contact the project

• Legambiente Associazione Onlus
• Novamont SPA
• Contarina SPA
• Fraunhofer Gesellschaft zur Forderung der Angewandten Forschung EV
• Fundacion Circe Centro de Investigacion de Recursos y Consumos Energeticos
• Edizioni Ambiente SRL
• Terracycle UK Ltd
• Procter & Gamble International Operations SA
• Saponia Kemijska
• Prehrambena i Farmaceutska Industria D.D.
• Fertinagro Biotech SL
• BV Rubberfabriek Wittenburg