REFRESH partners MTB and ETAT9 participated in an AXELERA Technical Day exploring the opportunities and challenges presented by new waste streams.

Les nouveaux flux de déchets: opportunités, défis et solutions autour de la collecte, du transport et du traitement (New waste streams: opportunities, challenges and solutions around collection, transport and treatment) took place on 10 December, in Solaize, France.

Through presentations and discussions the participants addressed questions around regulations, safety, and reuse and recycling. A networking workshop will encourage the development of new collaborations.

In the presentation Recyclage des pales d’éolienne: défis techniques et logistiques (Recycling wind turbine blades: technical and logistical challenges) Esthel OSSÓ of MTB and Jean-Baptiste STREHAIANO of ETAT9 introduced the REFRESH wind turbine blade recycling project, its results to date, and discussed the technological, economic and logistical challenges of treating end-of-use blades.

In REFRESH, ETAT9 is developing solutions for cutting the blades, while MTB Manufacturing is optimising shredding and materials sorting technologies. These steps are followed by recycling and ecodesign of new products using recycled materials.

AXELERA is a competitiveness cluster for chemistry, process industries and the environment. It aims to accelerate the success of its members involved in the management of materials and environmental resources, by supporting innovation and the development of sustainable solutions.