Microplastics have been heavily criticized in modern waste management. The Tenerife Island Council, through the department of Natural Environment, Sustainability, Emergency and Emergency Services, has taken on a project in collaboration with the University of La Laguna (ULL) aiming to give them a second life by using them to treat and convert landfill leachates into compost.
The ULL research was approved by the Tenerife+Sustainable project steering committee. The total project budget amounts to 939,689 euros with a four-year execution plan and the hiring of two individuals to undertake two doctoral theses during this time. One will focus on the general line of leachates and the other on the specific line of fluids in compost. The practical scenario will be the Environmental Complex of Tenerife (CAT), located in Arico.
The study, called Elimination of contaminants in leachates using microplastics and urban plastic waste, demonstrates the ability of these elements to absorb the contaminants from leachates, which are fluids derived from the filtration and decomposition of organic matter. The aim is to utilize the final result for, among other uses, agriculture in the form of compost.
Island councillor Blanca Pérez points out that “this initiative stems from our commitment to promote research and innovation in waste management for its utilization and to encourage the circular economy”.
In January, a steering committee was formed, composed of UTE Nivaria, which includes Urbaser and FCC – the awardee of the island’s waste management service – and the Council, to develop innovative projects in this field. As a result of the meeting, work is already underway on nine of the twenty proposed initiatives, amounting to a funding of nine million euros and involving ULL, the European University and ITER.
The island’s Director of Sustainability, Alejandro Molowny, explains that “the research, innovation, and development projects in waste management on the island mark the beginning of a new phase”. Molowny emphasizes the public-private collaboration and academic advice. He highlights that “furthermore, the council allocates two million euros annually over the 15-year contract award period for these lines of work”. The director concludes: “This demonstrates a strong commitment to continuous improvement”.
The project is led by Javier Hernández Borges, a professor of Analytical Chemistry at ULL. He highlights that the research has four objectives, “all important due to the potential results and the possibility of opening new lines in the treatment of leachates and their potential applications”.
The expert emphasizes that the first purpose is using microplastics or small-sized plastics to leverage their absorption capacity. “We want to use them to clean the leachate product and be able to discharge it properly for other applications”. He also points out that “plastics retain certain contaminants on their surface”.
The second objective is “determining the presence of microplastics in compost and bio-stabilized materials” resulting from the treatment of selectively collected organic waste used as fertilizers for plants. He emphasizes: “To establish the degree of contamination by microplastics and whether, when applied to soils, they migrate and persist”.
The third premise is the study of “the presence of microplastics on four beaches in Tenerife for at least six months with the aim of continuous monitoring. We know that Canary Islands have the highest concentration of microplastics in the entire Macaronesia region”.
The final part of the project focuses on raising awareness about the issue of microplastics. This includes publishing articles and presenting the results at conferences. In addition, disseminating the data at all levels; in schools and universities, or through talks, lectures, and forums.
Leachate is liquid waste that moves among waste mainly found in landfills. Its appearance is usually quite unpleasant, black or yellow. It is a dense material that produces a very foul smell. Sometimes, there may also be traces of foam. It usually forms during the fermentation and decomposition processes of accumulated organic matter. The filtration of water from rain moves among the waste, carrying chemical compounds and biological materials, resulting in a highly polluting effluent – liquid from industrial plants. To avoid or minimize the formation of leachate, proper waste treatment is essential. Currently, the most common treatment systems are developed on-site where the leachate is present. | JDM
