Total generation of municipal waste in EU-27 (Eurostat 2000 and 2010) is presented in Figure 1. In the EU alone, 90 million tonnes of food waste is produced every year or around 180 kg per person. The EU waste composition is presented in Figure 2. Biowaste is by definition biodegradable garden and park waste, food and kitchen waste from households, restaurants, caterers and retail premises and comparable waste from food processing plants. The largest producers of biowaste by percentage are presented in the Figure 3 (EUROSTAT 2006).
It is estimated that about one-third of Europe`s 2020 goal for renewable energy in transport could be met by using biogas produced from biowaste and around 2% of the EU`s overall renewable energy target could be met if all biowaste were turned into energy. There were around 1.6 million CNG vehicles in Europe at the end of 2011 representing 0.38% of European market share. Also, there are around 3,000 refuelling CNG stations in the EU.
The aim of the project is to combine the potential of two different sectors: waste management and renewable energy production, where project activities are covering all chains of the proposed Food Waste to Biofeuel (FWtB) concept: supply (waste producers, waste management, and biofuel production), and demand (biofuel distribution through filling stations networks). The FWtB value chain of the Bin2Grid project is presented in Figure 4.
The overall objective of Bin2Grid project is to promote segregated collection of food waste as energy source, its conversion to biogas and upgrade to biomethane. Within Bin2Grid 4 European target cities are supported for the production and distribution of biomethane and its usage as a biofuel for transport:
• City of Zagreb (Croatia),
• City of Skopje (MK FYR),
• City of Malaga (Spain),
• City of Paris (France);
During the implementation of the project more than 100 events, including workshops, working group meetings, study tours and other dissemination activities will be implemented in order to elaborate four FoodWaste-to-Biofuel (FWtB) concepts for the target cities. The objectives of the Bin2Grid project are:
• 4 Feasibility studies on sustainable food waste management in the target cities
• 3 study tours in the WtB chain for representatives of the cities
• 24 Food Waste Working group meetings
• 4 Concepts on food waste management in target cities
• 4 Case-studies on filling stations network in target cities
• Organisation of 4 training courses on food and beverage waste management as energy source
• In each target city a dedicated training course will be organised to train the stakeholders about opportunities to produce biogas/biomethane from food and beverage waste
• Implementation of 4 promotional campaigns in the target cities
• Organisation of 4 pilot projects in cooperation with restaurants associations and municipal companies
• 8 awareness campaigns (2 in each target city) will be implemented to increase the awareness on the benefits of separate waste collection: one among catering services the other one among residents
• Reduction in CO2 emissions associated with current fossil fuel consumption by increase in biofuel consumption in transportation vehicles by 30% in target cities
• 100 key players from 7 member states trained via an intensive training program
• 120 policy makers on local, national and European level reached with relevant amendments to current regional and national legislation on a enhancing biogas plants fed with industrial and household wastes in 7 target countries
• 250 target group members out of 6 member states and FYR Macedonia sensitised and informed about technical and non-technical barriers and the way to overcome them
