SusNisia: Circular economy for biogenic residues for the North Aegean – case studies for Islands of Chios and Lesvos

The North Aegean Islands of Chios and Lesvos set recycling goals for organic residues from MSW. Both islands, in line with the National and the Regional Plans for Municipal Waste Management, have selected the approach of mechanical-biological stabilization of MSW in combination with separated collection of biowastes and municipal pruning. The SusNisia-project, supported by the GRDE, adds Anaerobic Digestion (AD) to both approaches to demonstrate the added-value by production of biogas for energy purposes or as fuel for e.g. garbage trucks. The advantages of separated collection of organic input materials are the maintainance of high quality and multi-purpose end-products to serve the goal of local nutrient recycling. As refinement, SusNisia applies digestate or compost from Biowaste-AD and char coal from municipal pruning for production of specific soil enhancement products e.g. for olive tree cultivation, vegetable farming and greenhouse applications. The char coal, as activated char, absorbs pollutions, provides a sink for carbon dioxide and delivers extended water storage capabilities. The stark natural variation of nutrient content as well as the absence of refinancing schemes for climate services by novel and innovative soil products, are significant constraints for a commercial mainstreaming.