ValueWaste Kick-Off meeting

On November 20 and 21, the VALUEWASTE project’s kick-off meeting took place. VALUEWASTE is an ambitious project aimed at maximizing the recovery of substances from organic waste generated in cities and municipalities. The meeting was organized by CETENMA (Technological Centre for Energy and the Environment ), coordinator of VALUEWASTE. For 2 days, the consortium’s 17 partners got together to prepare the first steps of the project’s execution, as well as to meet the people that will be companions in this initiative for the next 4 years.

Valuewaste Kick-Off Meeting Development

José Ballesta, mayor of the City of Murcia, greeted the team and highlighted the importance of VALUEWASTE to place Murcia at the height of other European cities concerning sustainability and technological innovation.
On the first day, the leaders of the different work packages explained the main tasks to be developed, and protocols for efficient communication of the project and dissemination of the results were established.
The second day, the consortium had the opportunity to visit the waste separation plant of “Cañada Hermosa” in Murcia. In this plant, the installation of two of the three recovery lines contemplated by the project will be carried out.

Some of the Valuewaste Kick-Off Meeting attendants

César Aliaga, also attended the event, representing ITENE – Technological Institute for Packaging, Transport and Logistics, a Spanish entity who coordinates the SCALIBUR project. SCALIBUR is a project funded under the same call as VALUEWASTE and with which we hope to create synergies that help to further enhance both the participation of citizens and the excellence of results.

The meeting also included the participation of Isabelle Van Borm, the European Commission’s responsible for the project, and Carina Pereira, responsible for policies at the Directorate General of Research and Innovation of the European Commission. Carina analysed the current political context regarding the management of food waste and emphasized the importance of establishing a two-way dialogue that allows political actors to define strategies for a sustainable and self-sufficient Europe, all based on scientific, technical and social advances developed in the funded projects.

VALUEWASTE Communication and Dissemination Partner, Innovarum, also assisted the event.