Across Europe, waste is piling up — not just the usual suspects, such as plastic packaging and food scraps, but also notoriously difficult-to-recycle materials, such as disposable nappies, cigarette filters, smartphone screens and composite glass. Current recycling systems cannot process these complex products efficiently, meaning they often end up in landfills or incinerators. However, it is crucial that we address these waste streams if we are to build a truly circular economy. This is where some EU projects come in, developing practical, science-based solutions to recover value from materials that would otherwise be discarded.
Food Waste: From a Problem to a Resource
Food waste remains one of Europe’s largest and most underutilised waste streams. LANDFEED is addressing this issue by developing new technologies and bioconversion processes that transform organic waste, such as discarded food and agricultural by-products, into valuable bio-based products, including fertilisers and animal feed.
The project’s mission is clear: to keep organic waste out of landfills and within the regenerative bioeconomy. By closing this loop, LANDFEED reduces greenhouse gas emissions and contributes to soil restoration, sustainable agriculture and energy recovery — all of which are key pillars of the European Green Deal.
The Bigger Picture: Tackling Other Difficult Waste Streams
LANDFEED’s work is part of a wider innovation ecosystem responding to Europe’s waste crisis. Several initiatives in the EU are exploring material-specific recycling strategies for items, such as:
- The glass found in X-ray tubes, LCDs and smartphone screens is often chemically altered, making it difficult to melt down in conventional kilns. Everglass scientists are creating a prototype glass recycling machine that uses a laser to melt the glass. Unlike a kiln, the laser can be quickly adjusted to the required melting temperature for any type of glass and can potentially reform it into new products.
- Neodymium magnets are the strongest on the market and can now be found in wind turbines, electric car motors and e-scooters. However, they are made from critical raw materials that could be recycled; yet, so far, there is no industrial or commercial process capable of doing so. The project Harmony is researching ways to safely recycle these magnets.
- Used nappies are difficult to recycle, as this process is expensive and lengthy; their super-absorbent polymers form a gel. When wet, this must first be treated to release any moisture before it can be cut into small pieces so that the plastic and fibres can be recycled. Diaper Recylcing Europe is developing a process that deactivates the polymers, separates the materials and removes any pathogens or traces of medicine from the reclaimed materials and wastewater.
- Cigarette filters are expensive and difficult to collect because they easily disperse in the environment. Re-Cig, an Italian start-up, has installed over 4,500 cigarette bins throughout Italy. These are then collected, washed, dried, and mixed at a controlled temperature to extract a plastic polymer called cellulose acetate. This is then ground into granules for reuse in applications such as 3D printing.
All of these efforts complement LANDFEED’s mission, each targeting a different segment of the waste stream. Together, they represent a shift towards targeted circular solutions for all types of material.
Toward a More Circular Europe
Every waste item, whether it’s a half-eaten sandwich or a shattered phone screen, has value — if we invest in the right systems to recover it. LANDFEED is proud to be at the forefront of organic waste valorisation, demonstrating that discarded materials can fuel a sustainable future.
Read the full Euronews article.