Description
In Poland the EU legislation in the areas of waste management and green energy production still needs to be transposed to the domestic law. A novel and thus difficult element of the transposition process is the organic fraction of the municipal solid waste (OFMSW) treated in anaerobic digestion plants (biogas). Such treatment plants are considered to be the most environmentally friendly of all OFMSW options because they allow for a parallel material and energy recovery. The general scope of the Project is the scientific and research support for introducing the anaerobic digestion as a treatment option for the organic fraction of the municipal solid waste (OFMSW) and the integration of waste and energy issues into spatial planning and investment procedures at a local level.
Summary of project results
Filling the gap between EU/national cross-cutting policies (climate targets such as the obligation to produce green electricity, recycle waste, protect the environment and the landscape) can be realised by finding economic, social and environmental trade-offs for new environmental infrastructures at the local level. Top-down obligation, however, cannot be fulfilled without talking into consideration resistance of local actors (not in my backyard). The project resulted in elaboration of siting alternatives generated in a multicriteria approach applied to renewable energy and waste facilities in peri-urban areas. The project was supposed to improve the efficiency of the investment process and siting procedures for facilities processing organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW). Anaerobic digestion (AD) facilities generating renewable energy out of OFMSW (biogas) were prioritised as a treatment option. The second objective was to elaborate a replicable tool, which could be used for analysing technological and location alternatives. The M-BIST multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) tool was tested in a real case study, it can be used in various locations both in Poland and abroad. The outcome of the project was guidelines for actors active on the renewable and waste to energy market such as local and regional authorities, investors and project developers as well as inhabitants' associations. Additionally a dedicated MCDA tool was created to help those actors to take optimal investment decisions. The project resulted in presentation of results at 16 conferences, consultation with market experts in the field of spatial planning, waste management, local management. Both the project team as well as the participants of such meetings benefitted from gaining a broader perspective to waste and energy issues. The result of work was presented and practiced with MSc level students, who in the future can implement a multidimensional approach to solving energy and waste investment puzzles. The participants of the project will strive to replicate the results in other locations in Poland and abroad.
Summary of bilateral results