VALOR - Valorisation Alternatives to Landfill for Organic Residues

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Start/End date
Ongoing
Yes
Expected end date
02/2021
VALOR project
Description

The VALOR project aims to investigate higher value options for the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) and formulate strategies to minimise its disposal to landfill. It targets waste streams generated from the mechanical treatment of municipal solid waste.

The potential recovery of the municipal residual waste organic fraction will be investigated by:

  • Selection of diagnostic tests to assess the most practical higher value options such as a soil amendment and production of biogas and biofuel;
  • Evaluating the interference of potential contaminants in the recovery processes, with particular emphasis on plastic contamination;
  • Assessing risks and benefits of the end use recovery processes and validation of the most suitable ones.

This project is funded under the Environmental Protection Agency Research Programme 2014-2020 and by the Southern Waste Region of Ireland. The EPA Research Programme is a Government of Ireland initiative funded by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment.

Identified challenge (s)
Main results

The VALOR project seeks to:

  1. explore the potential for generation of high value products from municipal organic waste streams and contribute to the reduction of the disposal of biodegradable waste in landfills;
  2. investigate the production of biofuels (biomethane, bioethanol and biodiesel) from organic mixed waste streams, positively impacting sustainable energy production and the circular economy;
  3. validate the use of municipal waste compost as a soil improver in soil remediation/restoration;
  4. contribute to the achievement of European/National landfill reduction targets;
  5. inform national waste management policy and end of waste criteria regarding the organic residues from municipal solid waste.