Backround: This project is the development of an opportunity identified in the “Terrassa Circular Economy Strategic Plan”.
Goals
- Increase the percentage of materials utilized by reducing the generation of common waste (mixing).
- Identify key stakeholders in the supply chain of the studied materials to close the loop and enable their utilization.
- Achieve a greater social-economic and sustainable development of Terrassa’s industry, creating new products and attracting companies to the territory.
Methodology:
To enhance the circularity of the industry in Terrassa, the study analyzed the entire value chain of materials, highlighting the stakeholders who could benefit from the newly identified business opportunities. This includes both the utilization of their waste (resulting in cost savings in management) and the use of recycled materials in their products.
- Visits to waste management facilities in Terrassa to provide context on the local reality concerning the management of material flows.
- Industrial common waste characterization (mix).
- Quantification of the potential of each material of interest through mapping the companies that produce them.
- Exploration of new products recycled from these materials, along with technologies and suppliers.
- Mapping of companies that could incorporate these products/materials into their production processes.
- Presentation event with local stakeholders as a starting point to develop the value chains.
Highlighted:
- The potential quantity of the studied materials mixed in the common fraction of industries has been calculated using data provided by a common waste sorting facility, along with additional information found in the literature, as well as the types of companies that could be generating them.
- Recycled products have been proposed that could utilize materials typically ending up in landfills, such as film and expanded polystyrene, due to their low volume-to-weight ratio.
Results:
- Resources (waste generators -> materials management/valorizators -> product’s market potential):
- Social-economic: potential of creation of 29 jobs in Terrassa.
- Environmental: emission reduction en 5.000t CO2/a.
Conclusions
It is essential to identify and involve local valorizers in the project to close the loop on materials. Public entities should support and promote projects aimed at improving the source separation of industrial waste, as these stakeholders have a holistic view of the local reality and can establish connections throughout the entire value chain.
