CirculaWASTE: Use of Urban Solid Wastes and Organic Wastes in Agriculture for Transition to Circular Economy

The CirculaWASTE project promotes the development and application of innovative approaches and tools in agricultural and municipal waste management and biomass energy generation. It aims to enhance the efficiency of public spending in waste management and support investments in training through new funding models such as public-private partnerships and cost-sharing initiatives.

The project addresses the issue of rural unemployment by encouraging entrepreneurship and fostering new mindsets among farmers and municipalities. It seeks to raise awareness about self-employment opportunities in waste management and biomass energy sectors. As part of this effort, CirculaWASTE introduces an innovative Vocational Education and Training (VET) program focused on developing entrepreneurial skills in biomass energy generation. The project targets VET providers, enabling them to acquire new knowledge, skills, and qualifications to boost personal development, employability, and participation in the EU biomass energy market.

CirculaWASTE Project Objectives:

• Training 96 VET trainers,
• Developing a Training Manual for VET Trainers based on the outcomes of four Training of Trainers (ToT) sessions,
• Identifying and analyzing targeted needs and competences,
• Developing new professional skills related to biomass energy,
• Promoting the EU’s Renewable Energy Sources (RES) objectives,
• Raising awareness and facilitating the transfer of innovation in waste reuse across the EU,
• Supporting rural quality of life improvements and reducing migration,
• Promoting environmental awareness.

Planned Activities and Modules:

Four main activities are planned within the project, each resulting in the development of a training module. At the end of the project, these modules will be combined into a comprehensive training manual. The institutions hosting each activity will develop their respective modules, and SDSN will finalize and compile the complete manual.

• Activity/Module 1: Agricultural Wastes
• Activity/Module 2: Animal Wastes
• Activity/Module 3: Human Waste
• Activity/Module 4: Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)

Through these training activities, the project aims to build the capacity of 96 VET trainers on these key topics, supporting the transition towards a more circular economy.