Photo: Strobe foto
Reklima has been granted 2,4 million kroner from “Regionalt forskningsfond Vestfold and Telemark”, for developing methods for removing visible plastic residues from the biofertilizer. The project will enhance a circular economy and reduce the environmental footprint.
The biofertilizer is a circular residual product from the biogas plant at “The Magic Factory”. Biogas is produced from organic household waste from 1,2 million inhabitants, mixed with cow manure from regional farms. The organic household waste contains a lot of plastic residues, stemming both from packaging material and plastic bags used for containing the household waste. Some of the plastic residues are propagating into the biofertilizer. Most of the plastics are sorted out today and are well within the Norwegian fertilizer regulations (plastics with a particle size > 4 mm shall not make up more than 0,5 weight percent of the total dry matter). The aim of this research project is to develop methods that removes all visible plastic residues.
Other project participants are SINTEF, NGI, Greve Biogass, Lindum, Skjærgaarden gartneri and Arne Olav Steinsholt. SINTEF will test advanced methods for particle separation, possibly also in combination with vermicomposting or insect production. The project will also investigate whether the plastic residues separated from the biofertilizer can be recycled using pyrolysis, transforming the residues into syngas and biochar. Biochar can be used as a soil improver, either alone or combined with the biofertilizer, as a feed supplement to animals, or in various types of cleaning and stabilization processes. NGI has developed a method for analysing plastics in liquid and dry matter biofertilizers. In the project they will adapt this method for testing and verifying the cleansing technology.
The project starts up in the spring of 2021 and will be finished by the end of 2022. Contact person is Ivar Hagemoen, Managing Director of Reklima.