What’s land recycling? Read about this German example
The city of Flensburg got a grant from the regional government of Schleswig-Holstein so that it would avoid building on new land
A new facility in the city will produce biochar, trap CO2 and generate sustainable energy
Last week, the company Circular Carbon opened its first German facility in Hamburg. The company produces biochar – a substance that can capture CO2 from organic materials with the main ingredient in the facility being cocoa shells – a waste product from chocolate-making.
The substance has a wide range of uses, but Circular Carbon has specialised in producing a biochar that imitates peat, perfect as a type of fertiliser or animal feed. Additionally, the waste heat generated during the production process is pumped into a nearby industrial facility and recycled.
Biochar is a substance produced by putting carbon and organic waste through a process known as pyrolysis – applying heat in an inert atmosphere. This produces a coal-like substance that is very resistant to decomposition, birthing the concept of pyrogenic carbon capture and storage.
In the case of Circular Carbon and their Hamburg facility, the main raw material used to produce biochar is cocoa shells, a byproduct in the making of chocolate. The material is processed with heat, which lets out a byproduct in the form of steam. The steam is then channelled into a nearby industrial facility, replacing their need for fossil fuel heat.
The resulting biochar has a lot of properties resembling peat because it is produced with nutritious nutrient-rich food waste. This makes it perfect as a sort of fertiliser, able to increase the productivity of acidic and depleted soils, improving agriculture. It can also be used as an animal feed or building material, as well as a moisture sponge for trees in urban environments.
According to an official statement, there are a lot of nutrient-rich materials suitable for producing biochar, including oat husks, fruit stones, straw and green waste in general. In this way, organic residues can be contained in a non-reactive, slow-decomposing form, instead of rotting away, releasing all their carbon into the atmosphere.
The goal is to preserve these traditional features in the urban landscape while finding new purpose for their existence
His name is Adrian-Dragoș Benea from Romania
Find out her vision for the next five years and what’s in store for the European Union
Gotland wants to be at the forefront of this emerging mobility technology
It’s all about preventing the habit of slowing down just for the radar
Landkreis Heilbronn will also enlist the help of sensors to identify incorrectly filled organic trash bins
Apparently, that makes it the most progressive city in that respect in all of Finland
Residents couldn’t handle the noise pollution anymore
The Old Continent gets ready for the largest festival of sports
Apparently, that makes it the most progressive city in that respect in all of Finland
The goal is to preserve these traditional features in the urban landscape while finding new purpose for their existence
Residents couldn’t handle the noise pollution anymore
Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment.
Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements.
Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces
An interview with the Mayor of a Polish city that seeks to reinvent itself
An interview with the newly elected ICLEI President and Mayor of Malmö
A conversation with the Mayor of Lisbon about the spirit and dimensions of innovation present in the Portuguese capital