Best LIFE-environment projects 2006-2007.
Date: 2007-11-08
Institutions: Directorate-General for Environment
Subjects: EU environmental policy, EU programme, environmental impact, environmental protection, honour, project evaluation

L I F E   I I I

Best LIFE-Environment Projects 
2006-2007

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Attention version papier ajouter

European Commission
Environment Directorate-General

LIFE (“The Financial Instrument for the Environment”) is a programme launched by the European Commission and coordinated 

by the Environment Directorate-General (LIFE Unit - E.4).

The content of the publication “Best LIFE-Environment projects 2006-2007” does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the 

institutions of the European Union.

Authors: Leigh Phillips, Jon Eldridge, Ed Thorpe, Wendy Jones, Nora Schiessler. Editorial department: Eric Sarvan (Astrale 
GEIE-AEIDL). Managing editor: Philip Owen (European Commission, DG Environment, LIFE Unit). LIFE Focus series coor-
dination: Simon Goss (DG Environment, LIFE Communications Coordinator), Evelyne Jussiant (DG Environment, Communica-
tions Coordinator). Graphic design: Daniel Renders, Anita Cortés. Production: Monique Braem. The following people also  
worked on this issue: Nicole Kerkhof. Acknowledgements: Thanks to all LIFE project beneficiaries who contributed com-
ments, photos and other useful material for this report. Photos: Cover: LIFE02 ENV/IT/000064, LIFE02 ENV/GR/000371, LIFE03 
ENV/NL/000476, LIFE03 ENV/S/000595. Inside: From the respective LIFE projects unless otherwise specified - This issue of LIFE 

Focus is published in English with a print-run of 3,000 copies and is also available online.

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Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, 2007

ISBN 978-92-79-06699-3

ISSN 1725-5619

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Best LIFE-Environment Projects 2006-2007  I  p. 4

Selected LIFE publications

LIFE-Focus brochures

Other publications

A number of LIFE publications are 
available on the LIFE website:

LIFE and Europe’s rivers – Protecting 
and  improving  our  water  resources 
(2007 – 52pp. ISBN 978-92-79-05543-0 
- ISSN 1725-5619)
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/
publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/
documents/rivers.pdf

LIFE and Energy – Innovative solutions 
for sustainable and efficient energy in 
Europe (2007 – 64pp. ISBN 978 92-79-
04969-9 - ISSN 1725-5619)
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/
publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/
documents/energy_lr.pdf

LIFE and the marine environment  
(2006 – 54pp. ISBN 92-79-03447-2- ISSN 
1725-5619)
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/
publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/
documents/marine_lr.pdf

LIFE and European forests (2006 - 68pp. 
ISBN 92-79-02255-5 - ISSN 1725-5619)
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/
publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/
documents/forest_lr.pdf

LIFE in the City – Innovative solutions 
for Europe’s urban environment (2006, 
64pp.  -  ISBN  92-79-02254-7  –  ISSN 
1725-5619)    http://ec.europa.eu/envi-
ronment/life/publications/lifepublica-
tions/lifefocus/documents/urban_lr.pdf

Integrated  management  of  Natura 
2000 sites (2005 - 48 pp. – ISBN 92-79-
00388-7) http://ec.europa.eu/environment/
life/publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/
documents/managingnatura_lr.pdf

LIFE,  Natura  2000  and  the  military 
(2005  -  86  pp.  –  ISBN  92-894-9213-9 
– ISSN 1725-5619)
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/
publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/
documents/military_en.pdf

LIFE for birds - 25 years of the Birds 
Directive:  the  contribution  of  LIFE-
Nature projects (2004 - 48 pp. – ISBN 
92-894-7452-1 – ISSN 1725-5619)
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/
publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/
documents/birds_en.pdf

The air we breathe - LIFE and the Euro-
pean Union clean air policy (2004 - 32 pp. 
– ISBN 92-894-7899-3 – ISSN 1725-5619)
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/
publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/
documents/lifeair_hr.pdf

LIFE-Third Countries 1992-2006 (2007, 
64 pp. – ISBN 978-92-79-05694-9 – ISSN 
1725-5619) 
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/
publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/
documents/TCY_lr.pdf

LIFE-Nature:  communicating  with 
stakeholders and the general public 
- Best practice examples for Natura 
2000  (2004  -  72  pp.  –  ISBN  92-894-
7898-5 – ISSN 1725-5619) 
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/
publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/
documents/natcommunicat_lr.pdf

A cleaner, greener Europe - LIFE and 
the  European  Union  waste  policy 
(2004  -  28  pp.  –  ISBN  92-894-6018-0 
– ISSN 1725-5619) 
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/
publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/
documents/waste_en.pdf

Industrial  pollution,  European  solu-
tions: clean technologies - LIFE and 
the Directive on integrated pollution 
prevention and control (IPPC Direc-
tive)  (2003  -  32  pp.  –  ISBN  92-894-
6020-2 – ISSN 1725-5619)
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/
publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/
documents/cleantech_en.pdf

LIFE and agri-environment support-
ing Natura 2000 - Experience from the 
LIFE programme (2003 - 72 pp. – ISBN 
92-894-6023-7 – ISSN N° 1725-5619)
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/
publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/
documents/agrienvironment_en.pdf

LIFE for Natura 2000 - 10 years imple-
menting the regulation (2003 - 108 pp. 
– ISBN 92-894-4337-5)
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/
publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/
documents/lifefornatura_en.pdf

A sustainable approach for the envi-
ronment  -  LIFE  and  the  Community 
Eco-Management and Audit Scheme 
(EMAS) (2003 - 32 pp. – ISBN 92-894-
0543-0) 
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/
publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/
documents/emas_en.pdf

Best  LIFE-Environment  Projects  2005-
2006  (2006,  40  pp.-ISBN  92-79-02123-
0)  http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/ 
publications/lifepublications/bestprojects/
documents/bestenv06_lr.pdf 

Best LIFE-Environment Projects 2004-
2005 (2005, 44 pp. – ISBN 92-79-00889-
7)  http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/ 
publications/lifepublications/bestprojects/ 
documents/bestenv05_lr.pdf

LIFE-Environment 1992 – 2004 “Dem-
onstrating excellence in environmen-
tal innovation” (2005, 124 pp. – ISBN 
92-894-7699-3 – ISSN 1725-5619)
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/
publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/
documents/lifeenv92_04.pdf

LIFE-Environment Projects 2006 compi-
lation (2006, 56 pp.-ISBN 92-79-02786-7)
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/
l i f e / p u b l i c a t i o n s / l i f e p u b l i c a t i o n s / 
compilations/documents/envcompila-
tion06.pdf

LIFE-Nature Projects 2006 compilation 
(2006,  67  pp.  –  ISBN  92-79-02788-3) 
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/ 
l i f e / p u b l i c a t i o n s / l i f e p u b l i c a t i o n s / 
c o m p i l a t i o n s / d o c u m e n t s / 
natcompilation06.pdf

LIFE-Third  Countries  Projects  2006 
compilation (2006, 20 pp. – ISBN 92-
79-02787-5) 
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/
l i f e / p u b l i c a t i o n s / l i f e p u b l i c a t i o n s / 
c o m p i l a t i o n s / d o c u m e n t s / 
tcycompilation06.pdf

A  number  of  printed  copies  of  

certain  LIFE  publications  are 

available and can be ordered free-

of-charge at: http://ec.europa.eu/ 

environment/env-informa/

Best2006-07_layout-final.indd   41

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Name LIFE (“L’Instrument Financier pour l’Environnement” / The financial instrument for the environment)

Type of intervention co-financing of actions in favour of the environment in the twenty-seven Member States of 
the European Union, in the candidate countries who are associated to LIFE and in certain third countries bordering 
the Mediterranean and the Baltic Sea.

LIFE is made up of three thematic components: “LIFE-Nature”, “LIFE-Environment” and “LIFE-Third Countries”.

Objectives
>  with a view to sustainable development in the European Union, contribute to the drawing up, implementation and 

updating of Community policy and legislation in the area of the environment;

>  explore new solutions to environmental problems on a Community scale.

Beneficiaries any natural or legal person, provided that the projects financed meet the following general criteria:
> 
> 
> 

they are of Community interest and make a significant contribution to the general objectives; 
they are carried out by technically and financially sound participants;
they are feasible in terms of technical proposals, timetable, budget and value for money.

Types of project
>  Eligible for LIFE-Environment are innovative pilot and demonstration projects which bring environment-related 

and sustainable development considerations together in land management, which promote sustainable water and 
waste management or which minimise the environmental impact of economic activities, products and services. 
LIFE-Environment also finances preparatory projects aiming at the development or updating of Community 
environmental actions, instruments, legislation or policies. 

>  Eligible for LIFE-Nature are nature conservation projects which contribute to maintaining or restoring natural habitats 
and/or populations of species in a favourable state of conservation within the meaning of the “Birds” (79/409/EEC) 
and “Habitats” (92/43/EEC) Community Directives and which contribute to the establishment of the European network 
of protected areas – NATURA 2000. LIFE-Nature also finances “co-op” projects aiming to develop the exchange of 
experiences between projects.

>  Eligible for LIFE-Third countries are projects which contribute to the establishment of capacities and administrative 

structures needed in the environmental sector and in the development of environmental policy and action programmes 
in some countries bordering the Mediterranean and the Baltic Sea. 

Implementation 

Every year, the Commission publishes a call for proposals of projects to be co-financed.The Commission evaluates 
these proposals and selects those that will be co-financed. It closely monitors these projects and supports 
the dissemination of their results. 

Period covered (LIFE III) 2000-2006.

Funds from the Community approximately EUR 638 million for 2000-2004 and EUR 317 million for 2005-2006.

Contact

European Commission D6 Environment E4 (LIFE Unit) B-1049 Brussels 
Internet: http://ec.europa.eu/life

Life Focus / Best Life-Environment projects 2006-2007

Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities

2007 - 44p - 21 x 29.7 cm
ISBN 978-92-79-06699-3
ISSN 1725-5619

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ISSN 1725-5619 

 
 
 
 
 
Best LIFE-Environment Projects 2006-2007  I  p. 

Nicole Kerkhof
LIFE BoB co-ordinator
The Netherlands

The European Commission is justifiably proud of all the environmental projects it has funded across the union. However, 

some projects are just that little bit better than the rest. Indeed, they can be held up as models for others as to what a 

successful, innovative, well-designed and executed project should look like.

With this in mind, the Commission has selected, for the third time, a group of 22 of the most outstanding LIFE-Environ-

ment projects completed in 2006. This year, following an initial review carried out by the LIFE Unit’s external monitoring 

team, Member States reviewed the top 22 of the 62 projects that finished within the reference period.

The objective was to find out which projects were the ‘Best of the Best’ (BoBs) of those projects that completed their final 

reports before January 2007. Out of the top 22, five were selected as the very best - the Best of the Best, or ‘BoBs’. 

Let me take this opportunity to describe how the selections were made. 

This year, I had the honour to be the co-ordinator for the BoB selection and I must say that it was very nice to work with 

the already approved documents and ranking forms that had been created by the LIFE authorities over the two previous 

years. Since we had agreed upon the criteria and were satisfied with them, I didn’t have to make any changes to perform 

the ranking and simply continued the work of my more-than-able predecessor, Robbie Craig from the UK.

With the criteria set out, we then identified the best projects from an initial list prepared by the external monitors. The 22 

projects were distributed among evaluators on a random basis in a workable language for the national authority and with 

only one reviewer from the Member State in which the project beneficiary was based.

The results were again very encouraging: no projects were considered ‘below average’ and although only five projects 

could be included in the final BoB selection, the margin between the top five and the top ten was very close.

To shine a spotlight on the top five, we decided this year to have a proper award session during the EU’s Green Week, in 

Brussels on 14 June. At this ceremony, it was great not only to hear what the projects had achieved, but also to hear how 

they sometimes struggled to overcome problems and that in the end they are very proud of their achievements.

I personally can say, along with all the attendants at the Green Week, that this was a very rewarding afternoon and I think that the 

memories of their proud and happy faces will aid me next year when we go through the sometimes arduous BoB selection again.

Additionally, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all my national authority colleagues who gave up valuable 

time for the sake of this process. A number of individuals in particular deserve a special thank-you: Herlinde Vanhoutte, 

Isabelle Lico, Eleni Stylianopoulou, Ralf Tegeler, Gotfried Lamers, Anita Moberg, Pekka Harju-Autti, Artemis Gryllia, Nicolas 

Sornin-Petit and, of course, Robbie Craig. Thanks also to the staff of the LIFE Unit, the external monitors and to all the 

project beneficiaries.

Nicole Kerkhof
LIFE BoB coordinator

The Netherlands

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Introduction .........................3

EcoRiver: Demonstrating  

Waste management ....... 31

Land-use development  
and planning .................... 4

PEDRA TOSCA: Protecting 

environmental resources by 

promoting their sustainable 

exploitation - Spain ...............5

RAVE: Local transport and 

urban planning - Italy  ...........6

SMURF: River management 

in the West Midlands -  

United Kingdom  ...................7

Zantecoast: Turtles vs.  

tourism? - Greece .................8

Siddharta: Flexible on-

demand buses fight transport 

pollution in Genoa - Italy ........9

the benefits of an  

eco-toxicological approach -   

Portugal ...............................17

TANWATER: Tannery 

achieves over 80% cuts in 

nitrogen  

discharge - Sweden ............18

Recyclaqua: Worms put  

to work processing  

wastewater - France ...........19

Minimising the impact  
of economic activities .... 20

UK: Producing coated mate-

rial in a faster, quieter, cleaner  

and more economical way - 

United Kingdom  .................21

PVTrain: Applying  

photovoltaic cells to  

Water management ........ 10

railways - Italy  ....................24

MBR Varsseveld:  

Membranes improve  

wastewater effluent quality - 

Vapo: Warming up to energy 

efficiency for oil heating  

systems - Germany .............28

Netherlands .........................11

SoNatura: Natural, low-energy 

Viru-Peipsi camp: River  

management - Estonia ........15

URS: Demonstrating Ultra-

sonic Resonance Cleaning -  

Germany ..............................16

solution reduce VOC emissions 

from cork and leather industries 

Portugal  ................................ 29

EMAS-EDIN: Cleaning up 

the University of Macedonia - 

Greece .................................30

DOL-EL: 100 percent  

recycling of used oil  

lubricants - Germany  .......... 32

Humification of Sludge:  

Converting sewage waste  

into valuable soil - Greece ..33

Integrated Product  
Policy ............................. 34

Empereur: Beating the  

metal-plating competition  

with a more eco-friendly  

product - Netherlands .........35

Microfinishing: A new  

process for ceramic finishing 

that’s clean, dry and  

sludgeless - Italy  ................37

S-House: Buildings of the 

future - Austria  ...................39

Taneftreat: Boosting tannery 

wastewater treatment with 

‘better than best’  

technology - Netherlands  ...40

Available LIFE  

publications .......................41

“Best of the Best” projects

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Best LIFE-Environment Projects 2006-2007  I  p. 3

 Introduction

The EU Member States represented on the LIFE Committee and the European Commission’s LIFE 

Unit have announced the Best LIFE-Environment Projects 2006-2007. The results of the selection, 

as approved by the LIFE Committee in the spring of 2007, are the 22 projects featured in this 

publication. These projects represent the most recent successful LIFE-Environment projects 

in terms of their contribution to immediate and long-term environmental, economic and social 

improvements; their degree of innovation and transferability; their relevance to policy; and their 

United Kingdom

integrated product policy.  

Scoring of completed LIFE-Environ-

cost-effectiveness.

The 22 best 
LIFE-Environment 
projects 2006-2007

Land-use development and planning

PEDRA TOSCA

RAVE

Smurf

Zantecoast

SIDDHARTA

Spain

Italy

Greece

Italy

Water management

MEMBRANE BIOREACTOR The Netherlands

VIRU-PEIPSI CAMP

Estonia

USS

ECORIVER 

TANWATER 

RECYCLAQUA 

Germany

Portugal

Sweden

France

Impact of economic activities

REF

PVTrain

Vapo

SoNatura

EMAS-EDIN 

United Kingdom

Italy

Germany

Portugal

Greece

Waste management

DOL-EL

Germany

Humification of sludge Greece                  

Empereur 

Microfinishing

S-House

The Netherlands

Italy

Austria

TANEFTREAT

The Netherlands

“Best of the Best” projects

from across the then EU-25, cover 

the  awarded  projects,  and  in  par-

all  of  LIFE-Environment’s  main 

ticular, congratulate the top five.”

themes:  land-use  development 

and  planning;  water  management; 

minimising the impact of economic 

activities; waste management, and 

How were the best projects 
selected?

ment  projects  was  launched  in  the 

The  objective  of  the  exercise  is  to 

summer  of  2004.  The  system  was 

help  improve  the  transmission  of 

introduced  by  the  Commission,  fol-

LIFE-Environment project results by 

lowing an initiative taken by Sweden 

establishing  ‘best  practice’  criteria 

and the Netherlands.  After a meet-

within the LIFE programme. 

ing  at  The  Hague  from  11-12  May 

2004, a set of ‘best practice’ criteria 

Of  the  62  projects  that  concluded 

was developed in collaboration with 

in 2006, 22 were selected as ‘Best’ 

the  Member  States.  These  criteria 

projects.  This  is  the  third  time  the 

included  project’s  contribution  to 

best  LIFE-Environment  projects 

immediate  and  long-term  environ-

have been identified. A similar exer-

mental, economic and social improve-

cise  was  carried  out  last  year  (in 

ments; its degree of innovation and 

2005-2006) and in the previous year 

transferability; its relevance to policy; 

(2004-2005),  with  the  results  pub-

and its cost-effectiveness.  In view of 

lished in the Best LIFE-Environment 

the  importance  of  these  aspects  to 

project  compilations,  available  on 

project success, project beneficiaries 

the LIFE website. 

are also required to provide an ‘After-

LIFE  Communication  Plan’  and  an 

analysis of the long-term benefits of 

the project with their final report. This 

Of the 22 ‘Best’ 2006-2007 projects, 

information    also  forms  an  integral 

five  have  been  awarded  the  title, 

part of the evaluation process.  

‘Best  of  the  Best’  (BoBs).  Com-

menting on the results of this year’s 

Projects  were  initially  technically 

selection  process  –  announced  on 

assessed by the LIFE Unit’s external 

14  June  at  Green  Week  2007  in 

monitoring  team,  provided  by  the 

Integrated Product Policy

Meet the BoBs

This,  the  third  Best  LIFE-Environ-

Brussels  –  LIFE  committee  mem-

Astrale  consortium.  The  monitors 

ment  Projects’  exercise,  is  the 

ber and BoBs’ co-ordinator, Nicole 

ranked all the projects that ended dur-

product of an established identifica-

Kerkhof, of the Dutch Ministry of the 

ing the reference period (autumn 2005 

tion  and  evaluation  process  based 

Environment (VROM), said: “All the 

to spring 2006), to produce a first list. 

on  a  set  of  best-practice  criteria, 

projects  that  were  selected  were 

The final selection was undertaken by 

developed  by  EU  Member  States 

very  successful,  but  the  five  ‘Best 

the Member States under the coor-

in  collaboration  with  the  European 

of the Best’ scored highest overall, 

dination of Nicole Kerkhof, using the 

Commission.  The  projects  with 

which made the final selection easy. 

agreed set of criteria to identify the 

‘beneficiaries’,  or  project  holders, 

We  offer  our  congratulations  to  all 

best projects.  

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Land-use development  
and planning

The Commission’s Thematic Strategy on the Urban Environment calls for an inte-

grated approach to environmental management, land-use and transport planning 

at the local and regional level. To be sustainable, land-use planning and develop-

ment must harmonise a wide array of cross-cutting aims, ranging from water, air 

and soil protection to the promotion of economic development; from the conser-

vation of natural habitats to the fulfillment of transport needs; and from managing 

local climate-protection measures to reducing social segregation. Entailing partly 

contradictory  objectives,  land-use  planning  processes  are  often  conflict-ridden. 

Sustainable  land-use  therefore  requires  integrated  approaches,  which  take  into 

account the economic and social, as well as environmental concerns of the many 

different stakeholders involved.

Thematic Strategy on Urban Environment (adopted on 11 January 2006). 

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/urban/thematic_strategy.htm

Best2006-07_layout-final.indd   4

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Land-use development and planning

Best LIFE-Environment Projects 2006-2007  I  p. 5

PEDRA TOSCA: Protecting 
environmental resources by promoting 
their sustainable exploitation 

In the ecologically important ‘Bosc de Tosca’ (Tosca Forest) in northern Spain, one LIFE project showed 

that sustainable tourist and agricultural activities could be developed in a way that resists pressures 

from human action and restores ecological and environmental value.

The ‘Bosc de Tosca’ lies within the Vol-

that make up the architectural heritage 

canic Area of la Garrotxa natural park 

of the site and form a rich biotope for 

in northern Spain. Once a major Euro-

both flora and fauna.

pean forest, it later developed into a 

mix of forest and ‘artigas’ - farmland 

Ecological agriculture, without the use 

plots - linked by innumerable volcanic 

of fertilizers or pesticides, was imple-

dry-stone walled paths. This extraor-

mented and complemented by a well 

dinary landscape provided a suitable 

and tank system to retain and distrib-

environment for a rich variety of veg-

ute underground water. This alleviated 

etation,  fauna  and  traditional  crops 

short-term drought conditions in the 

and was made the subject of a Special 

artigas and facilitated a return to tradi-

Protection Plan in 1985.

tional agricultural practices.

School pupils on a trail through 
the Bosc de Tosca

adapted as an information, documenta-

However, the aggressive urban growth 

Reforestation took place in key areas 

tion and educational resource centre.

of the nearby town of Olot and the loss 

and specific crops were integrated to 

of  traditional  crops  were  degrading 

improve the nutrient balance of the soil 

Overall, the project achieved the res-

this special environment. Improvised 

and to produce food and aromatic and 

toration of 26 hectares of the Bosc de 

constructions - including shelters and 

medicinal herbs. A particularly innova-

Tosca for tourist use and natural con-

huts - and illegal dumping were hav-

tive arrangement saw eight local res-

servation. The invasion of the environ-

ing  a  negative  impact  on  the  area’s 

taurants  agree  to  offer  at  least  one 

ment  was  stopped  and  a  clear  limit 

visual appearance and its biodiversity. 

dish  including  common  buckwheat 

defined between the city and the natu-

Meanwhile,  irrigation  problems  and 

(Fagopyrum esculentum) to encourage 

ral area. During the final 18 months of 

changes in agricultural practice led to 

the viability of its cultivation. 

the project, more than 30,000 people 

abandoned fields and the proliferation 

visited the park or participated in the 

of alien species.

Some crops - such as crimson clover 

activities undertaken in a new, sustain-

(Trifolium  incarnatum)  -  were  intro-

able way.

The  project  sought  to  improve  the 

duced for their aesthetic qualities to 

management of human interaction with 

restore the artistic value of the park. 

the site through co-operation between 
private  landowners  and  public  and 

Cultural and artistic tools such as an 
exhibition by a local painter and poetry 

private bodies. It aimed to introduce 

readings were then used to promote 

more  culturally  and  environmentally 

ecological tourism and promote envi-

favourable agricultural practices and 

ronmental education. 

preserve the area’s natural heritage to 

maintain biodiversity and consolidate 

The project established thematic sign-

the area as a peri-urban park for local 

posted walking routes and organised 

citizens.

guided  trips  in  the  park  to  improve 

local awareness of the richness of the 

First,  dense  vegetation,  thorn  beds, 

site and to promote the sustainability of 

bushes  and  rubbish  were  removed 

tourism in the area. A series of key pro-

from the target site. This in turn facili-

motional events were held to coincide 

tated the recovery, protection and res-

with  important  moments  of  the  year 

toration of walls, shelters and artigas 

and an old wayside train station was 

Project Number: 
LIFE02 ENV/E/000263

Title: Pedra Tosca Park

Beneficiary: 
Ajuntament de Les Preses

Total Budget: 820,000

LIFE Contribution: 279,000

Period: Sept 2002 to Sept 2005

Website: www.lespreses.cat/
Parcdepedra/cartell2.htm

Contact: Laura Cañada Sierra

Email: cempreses@lespreses.org

Best2006-07_layout-final.indd   5

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Land-use development and planning

RAVE: Local transport 
and urban planning

Car usage and waste creation are ever-growing threats to the environment in most urban areas. 

This LIFE project showed how a comprehensive local strategy for managing transport and plan-

ning can bring public and private organisations together in reducing pollution - particularly of air 

and noise - in urban areas. 

In this context, the town’s urban plan-

refuse collection system to achieve the 

ning service developed the LIFE Novara 

sorting - and recycling - of household 

Green  Ray  project  -  RAVE  -  to  test 

urban waste.

the use of a ‘slow mobility’ transport 

system, with complementary waste dis-

A particularly interesting result of the 

posal measures. It sought to develop 

project  was  the  development  of  an 

co-operation between the public and 

innovative urban planning tool. Deve-

private sectors to reduce pollution and 

loped by the partner university, this is 

improve the quality of life in the town.

a methodology for assessing the likely 

long-term effects of a new factory or 

A key focus of the project was to make 

other  construction.  This  strategic 

the town’s citizens ‘active’ and respon-

environmental  evaluation  uses  key 

sible for their actions and behaviour. 

indicators  such  as  the  cohesion  of 

Extra stops were added to encourage 
greater use of buses

A public awareness campaign discou-

social networks, the use of resources 

raged  car  use  and  promoted  waste 

and the protection of bio-diversity to 

recycling. The “Va…lentina” snail logo 

consider  urban  development  simul-

Novara,  a  medium-sized  town  of 

was used as a recognisable symbol to 

taneously  from  the  environmental, 

100,000  inhabitants  in  northern  Italy, 

promote all the project’s activities and 

economic, social and cultural points 

was  experiencing  urban  decay  with 

objectives.

growing levels of noise and air pollu-

of  view.  By  going  beyond  a  simple 

assessment of the immediate environ-

tion. To confront the challenges posed 

The project created a ‘slow mobility’ 

mental impact, this permits a greater 

notably by city traffic, the local authori-

system to increase the attractiveness of 

focus  on  sustainable  development 

ties undertook a ‘Programme of Urban 

public transport. It established 5km of 

within urban planning.

Regeneration and Territorial Sustaina-

protected footpaths and 25km of cycle 

ble Development’ and an ‘Urban Deve-

paths together with designated bicycle 

The  project  succeeded  in  increasing 

lopment Plan’. These plans allocated 

parking stations. To improve the user-

the  efficiency,  reducing  the  pollutant 

financial resources for the development 

friendliness of buses, extra stops were 

emissions and improving the long-term 

of local infrastructure.

added  to  routes  and  computerised 

sustainability of the local transport sys-

Project Number: 
LIFE02 ENV/IT/000106

Title: The Green Ray of Novara

Beneficiary: Comune di Novara - 
Servizio pianificazione urbana 

timetables were introduced providing 

tem. It increased safety and security for 

real-time information about the arrival 

pedestrians and cyclists and generally 

of  buses  at  each  stop.  Furthermore, 

improved the quality of life in the area. 

six sets of intelligent traffic lights were 

The engagement of public and private 

installed that give automatic priority to 

bodies with a high degree of citizen par-

public transport.

ticipation produced tangible results that 

benefited  both  the  environment  and 

The environmental quality of the public 

responded to citizens’ needs.

Total Budget: 4,325,000

transport infrastructure was improved 

LIFE Contribution: 1,060,000

Period: Dec 2002 to Dec 2005

through the introduction of six buses 

The results - including the urban plan-

powered by methane and the extension 

ning tool - have a clear potential to be 

of the electric shuttle bus routes as far 

copied in other urban settings, particu-

Website: http://life.comune.novara.it

as the train station. Important comple-

larly those of up to 500,000 inhabitants. 

Contact: Paola Vallaro

Email: urbanist@comune.novara.it 

mentary environmental measures were 

Several EU cities involved in the final 

the creation of local ‘eco-points’ and 

conference of the project have already 

the implementation of a door-to-door 

started developing similar initiatives.

Best2006-07_layout-final.indd   6

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Land-use development and planning

Best LIFE-Environment Projects 2006-2007  I  p. 7

SMURF: River management 
in the West Midlands 

The SMURF project in the West Midlands, England, demonstrated a computer-modelling diagnostic 

approach to river management, and the benefits of engaging the local community in measures to 

improve the River Tame. 

The large West Midlands conurbation, 

including the city of Birmingham, lies 

in the 1515 km catchment area of the 

River  Tame,  a  tributary  of  the  River 

Trent. The river suffers from industrial 

pollution, damaged habitats and poor 

accessibility. It has also been extensi-

vely modified and re-routed.  

The LIFE project, Sustainable Manage-

ment of Urban Rivers and Floodplains, 

applied sustainable land-use planning 

and  water-management  techniques 

to  tackle  the  problems  commonly 

associated with urban rivers. In 2002, 

the  beneficiary,  the  UK  Environment 

The River Tame and the Perry Hall playing fields

Agency,  began  to  involve  the  public 

in the development of a vision for river 

over the course of the project open up 

ticated versions – one on a CD-ROM 

management, which could be applied 

the river to people and their pets. 

and the other provided online – were 

to a demonstration stretch of the River 

made available to the public.

Tame at the Perry Hall playing fields. 

The  overall  legacy  of  the  project  is 

difficult to quantify, but the organisers 

The  project  included  several  confe-

During the first phase of the project, 

believe  its  influence  will  be  far-rea-

rences  to  increase  awareness  of  its 

Birmingham  University  co-ordinated 

ching.  Since  the  project  closed,  the 

results  and  the  development  of  the 

the establishment of three groups for 

local council has provided the Perry 

habitat assessment tool. A representa-

two  rounds  of  evening  meetings  to 

Hall site with a park ranger, an appoint-

tive from Prague attended two of these 

develop the vision for river manage-

ment  that  could  have  resulted  from 

conferences and was inspired to test 

ment for all rivers in the city. 

the heightened awareness the project 

the method in her home city.

generated. The site also serves as an 

Interest in the project was high, and 

example of good practice that other 

measures included the construction of 

councils can follow. The university will 

a gravel path alongside the river, the 

conduct a follow-up study of the area 

location of rubbish bins to prevent lit-

to determine what effect the project 

tering, and the re-creation of riverside 

has had on the river habitat. 

habitats  through  the  lowering  of  the 

banks at certain points where reeds 

The innovative river modelling aspect 

and wild flowers were planted. 

of the project is continuing to be eva-

Project Number: 
LIFE02 ENV/UK/000144

Title: Sustainable Management of 
Urban Rivers & Floodplains

Beneficiary: Environment Agency, UK

Total Budget: 3,027,000

luated. The project used a geographi-

LIFE Contribution: 1,130,000

The aim of the project at Perry Hall, 

cal  information  system  (GIS),  which 

however, was social as well as ecolo-

links data to spatial information and 

Period: Aug 2002 to Jul 2005

gical. School children and more than 

can produce maps visually represen-

Website: www.smurf-project.info

100 local residents helped plant wild 

ting  this  data.  A  full  version  of  the 

flowers  on  a  new  patch  of  meadow 

system was delivered to the main pro-

created with earth taken from a bend 

ject  partners  and  requires  specialist 

in the river. The measures undertaken 

software, but two other less sophis-

Contact: Mark Scott

Email: mark.scott@environment-
agency.gov.uk

Best2006-07_layout-final.indd   7

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Land-use development and planning

Zantecoast: Turtles or tourism?

Pleasure boats, deckchairs and tourist debris threatened loggerhead turtle habitat near the island 

of Zakynthos until a LIFE project brought together visitors, local businesses and the managers of 

the National Marine Park to solve the problem.

The Zakynthos National Marine Park, 

legal limits for speed and access. The 

which was established in 1999, is loca-

carefully chosen anchoring system for 

ted in Laganas Bay, in the southern-

the buoys also avoided the destruc-

most part of the island, and encom-

tion  of  high-biodiversity  Posidonia 

passes sea turtle nesting beaches and 

seagrass beds (themselves a priority 

a section of adjoining land, the wetland 

conservation habitat classified under 

of  Keri,  together  with  the  two  small 

Annex I of the Habitats Directive). 

islands  of  Strofadia.  Together,  these 

make  up  the  most  important  logge-

The project has brought greater visi-

rhead sea turtle breeding ground in the 

bility to Greece’s first fully operatio-

EU. In order to protect the turtle’s habi-

nal  marine  park  and,  most  notably, 

tat, the park managers devised a plan 

for  the  first  time  in  Zakynthos’  long 

that involved awareness-raising, war-

history of environmental conflict, the 

dening and a range of on-site actions.

project team was able to gain partial 

One very successful aspect of the pro-

coastal zone management (ICZM) and 

acceptance and support for integrated 

Tourism can be a threat to loggerhead 
turtle habitat

Tourism  has  exploded  over  the  last 

ject was the raising of environmental 

sustainable  development  measures. 

twenty  years  on  the  Greek  island 

awareness amongst the public. The pro-

This was mainly thanks to a partici-

of  Zakynthos.  The  new  businesses 

ject managed to achieve this by actively 

patory and co-management process 

and  foreign  tour  operators  who  set 

involving both locals and visitors in inte-

involving various stakeholders: NGOs, 

up shop have been a wonder for the 

grated coastal management and sustai-

local businesses, farmers and fishers.

economy of the island, but not such 

nable development actions such as the  

a wonder for one particular turtle that 

construction of the basic infrastructure 

also happens to make his home there. 

(warden huts  and information panels), 

The  endangered  loggerhead  turtle 

the implementation of codes of conduct 

(Caretta caretta), which grows to an 

and the certification of local operators. 

average weight of 200kg and length 

of 1m, often saw its habitat in Laga-

Furthermore,  the  project  undertook 

nas Bay come under threat from such 

several actions to improve the environ-

things as tourists’ deck chairs spread 

mental management and protection of 

out  on  the  very  beaches  where  the 

the area, including the placing of buoys, 

turtles  make  their  nests,  as  well  as 

training of local staff, and a programme 

rubbish and other tourist debris.

of wardening – which was the first time 

a  systematic  wardening  programme 

The turtle is a priority species listed in 

had been launched in the country. 

Annex II of the EU’s Habitats Directive, 

and was the focus of national legislation 

Trespassing by visitors and local peo-

introduced by the Greek government 

ple  was  significantly  reduced,  and 

for the first time in 1984. This took the 

the  demarcation  of  the  marine  area 

Project Number: 
LIFE00 ENV/GR/000751

Title: ICZM: Demonstration actions in 
the National Marine Park of Zakynthos

Beneficiary: Management Agency 
of National Marine Park of Zakynthos 

form of a Presidential Decree concer-

with  the  buoys  gradually  improved 

Total Budget: 1,438,000

ning the land use in the surrounding 

the control of recreation and visitors’ 

area of the nesting beaches. But this 

boats. This delineation of the marine 

law was poorly enforced. Few people, 

section  of  the  park,  in  collaboration 

LIFE Contribution: 638,000

Period: Jun 2001 to Nov 2004

including tourist business operators, 

with  the  port  police,  decreased  the 

Website: www.nmp-zak.org

had much awareness of the conserva-

dangers to the turtles and also to the 

tion importance of the species or the 

rest of the area’s unique marine habi-

area’s environmental significance.

tats by aiding the enforcement of the 

Contact: Laurent Sourbes

Email: info@nmp-zak.org

Best2006-07_layout-final.indd   8

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Zantecoast: Turtles or tourism?

Land-use development and planning

Best LIFE-Environment Projects 2006-2007  I  p. 9

Siddharta: Flexible on-demand 
buses fight transport pollution 
in Genoa

The European Union has focussed on transport as a significant contributor to the reduction 

greenhouse gases, and in Genoa, one LIFE project demonstrated that through co-ordinated 

action, this can lead to significant improvements in the quality of the urban environment.

The Smart and Innovative Demons-

To encourage this shift, it introduced a 

The project was developed together 

tration of Demand Handy Responsive 

demand-responsive transport system 

with  the  Municipality  of  Genoa  and 

Transport Application (Siddharta) pro-

operated  by  low-emission  vehicles 

D’Appolonia, a consultancy.

ject implemented an innovative trans-

(DrinBus).  The  new  flexible  system 

port service to reduce air pollution in 

replaced  existing  public  transport 

The  beneficiary,  Azienda  Mobilità  e 

the Italian port of Genoa. Improving 

routes  (operated  with  diesel  buses 

Infrastrutture  (AMI),  is  developing 

the quality of air in the city not only 

in  Genoa).  This  system  increased 

similar  systems  in  the  province  of 

benefits  the  health  of  city  dwellers, 

the efficiency of the public transport 

Genoa, Savona and La Spezia. As a 

but also helps meet the goals of the 

network, requiring fewer trips for the 

result  of  the  new  transport  system, 

Kyoto Protocol on climate change. 

same number of passengers. Moreo-

Community  legislation  aims  to  cut 

about a 44% increase in the number 

ver,  the  new  arrangements  brought 

emissions from road vehicles through 

of passengers. 

•  The use of catalytic converter and 

AMI  estimates  that  health  costs  in 
the  former  area  will  be  reduced  by 
€34,500 a year and €187,744 a year in 
these latter two areas. AMI presented 

a report of its activities at several EU 

roadworthiness tests; 

Other  significant  results  of  the  pro-

workshops and conferences on inno-

•  Greater fuel efficiency of private cars 

ject  included  a  reduction  of  carbon 

vation in urban transport. 

(in collaboration with car manufac-

monoxide emissions by 1%, of total 

turers); and

suspended  particles  by  0.3%,  of 

Finally, the project was supported by 

•  The promotion of clean vehicles (via 

nitrogen oxides by 4.1%, of sulphur 

a  very  successful  advertising  cam-

tax incentives).

dioxide by 3.7%, and of volatile orga-

paign  promoting  the  DrinBus  ser-

The Siddharta project aimed to reduce 

oil-powered buses with ones powe-

brochures, posters and tickets etc.). 

emissions  by  bringing  about  a  shift 

red by natural gas). Additionally, there 

The DrinBus scheme has proven so 

from private to public transport. 

was a reduction of noise as a result 

popular that the beneficiary has since 

nic compounds by 0.3% (by replacing 

vice throughout the city (bus stops, 

Project Number: 
LIFE03 ENV/IT/000319   

Title: Smart and Innovative Demon-
stration of Demand Handy Respon-

sive Transport Application to improve 

the quality of the urban environment  

Beneficiary: Azienda Mobilità e 
Infrastrutture S.p.A. 

Total Budget: 1,327,000

LIFE Contribution: 573,000

Period: Jun 2003 to Dec 2005

Website: www.ami.genova.it

Contact: Alexio Picco

Email: alexio.picco@ami.genova.it

of fewer cars as an increased number 

exploited  both  the  technology  and 

of  locals  were  using  the  public  bus 

the know-how in the city of Krakow 

service. 

in Poland.

The project also evaluated the poten-

tial of replicating the system in other 

areas and raised awareness of urban 

air quality while encouraging greater 

use  of  public  transport.  To  support 

this part of the project, guidelines on 

best  practices  for  the  development 

of environmentally friendly and flexi-

ble public transport services in urban 

areas were produced.

The DrinBus scheme 
in operation

Best2006-07_layout-final.indd   9

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7
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I

 Water management

The  Water  Framework  Directive  2000  sets  out  a  timetable  of  actions  for 

Member States to follow in order to achieve good status of waters by 2015. 

It has introduced an objective of achieving sound ecological status for sur-

face  waters  and  has  therefore  emphasised  the  need  to  understand  and 

monitor water resources from a different perspective.  

Any activities which have a negative impact on a water body in terms of it 

reaching  good  status  must  be  identified  and  addressed.  Intrinsically 

therefore,  integrated  river-basin  management  is  advocated,  and  issues 

such  as  water  pricing;  water  and  wastewater  treatment  and  transport; 

flooding  and  irrigation;  and  pollution  prevention  and  planning  are  covered 

by the directive.

WFD Directive (2000/60/EC) http://europa.eu/scadplus/leg/en/lvb/l28002b.htm

Best2006-07_layout-final.indd   10

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Water management

Best LIFE-Environment Projects 2006-2007  I  p. 

MBR Varsseveld: Membranes 
improve wastewater effluent quality

This project has achieved remarkable success in demonstrating the first full-scale membrane 

bioreactor for the treatment of municipal wastewater in the Netherlands. Using specially-

developed membranes through which the biologically purified wastewater is drawn, the new 

Varsseveld wastewater treatment plant (WTTP) delivers a maximum of 755,000 litres of clean 

water an hour.

“We could have used sand filtration 

as the final treatment. But then there 

was the possibility of applying ‘new’ 

membrane technology to our busi-

ness,” says Schyns, explaining that 

although  the  technology  had  been 

around for some time, it was initially 

considered “too expensive” and also 

“used too much energy”. However, 

In the membrane tanks, water is separated from the bacteria-rich sludge by sucking it 
through membranes

the  emergence  of  new,  less 

energy-intensive,  low-

pressure  membranes 

would  help  to  bring 

down  the  costs.  In 

addition,  with  the 

a p p ro a c h i n g   2 0 1 5 

deadline  for  the  EU’s 

Water Framework Direc-

tive (2000/60/EC)1, he says 

S
E
B

T 2006-2007
BEST OF THE 

Located  in  the  east  of  the  Nether-

the  purified  water  in  sedimentation 

lands in the province of Gelderland, 
the Varsseveld WWTP is one of four-

tanks. However, this process was not 

always  entirely  effective  –  allowing 

1 http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/
water-framework/index_en.html 

there was a need to be thinking 

Close-up of the membranes: a type 
of plastic reed impregnated with 
miniscule holes

teen managed by the Rhine and Ijssel 

bacteria  to  be  discharged  with  the 

Water Board (the LIFE project bene-

treated  water  into  the  nearby  small 

ficiary).  Wastewater  from  the  plant 

river  Boven  Slinge  –  causing  pro-

is mainly commercial and domestic 

blems  of  water  turbidity  and  some 

water, but it includes rainwater that 

accumulated pollution. 

enters the sewers via street drains. 

In the Netherlands, where combined 

Project manager Philip Schyns says 

sewer systems prevail, there is a huge 

the  “less  risky”  option  would  have 

difference between wet-weather and 

been to simply replace and/or expand 

dry-weather supply. At Varsseveld for 

the old plant. However, due to the sen-

example, three times as much water 

sitivity of the Boven Slinge, which in 

arrives at the plant after heavy rainfall 

the summer time receives only water 

than during dry weather. 

discharged from the WWTP, there was 

a need for improved effluent quality. 

There was an urgent need to replace 

The plant’s relatively small size – the 

the old Varsseveld WTTP, which was 

maximum amount that can be produ-

built  in  the  1970s.  The  treatment 

ced daily equals the water produced 

process used bacteria for biological 

by 25,000 people – also made it an 

decomposition  or  pollution  extrac-

ideal size to experiment with emer-

tion, which were then separated from 

ging MBR technology.  

Best2006-07_layout-final.indd   11

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Water management

about  future,  more  stringent  requi-

more compact and modular instal-

treated water to be drawn through, 

rements  for  ‘ecologically  sensitive’ 

lations  (requiring  up  to  50%  less 

while  the  bacteria  remain  behind 

water.”

space  than  conventional  purifica-

in  the  treatment  plant.  According 

Partnership for innovation
In 2002, the innovative water board, 

included  a  reduction  of  odour  and 

“extremely  clean  water”  contain-

noise  emissions  and,  eventually,  a 

ing no solid particles and very little 

together  with  the  Dutch  Founda-

decrease in sludge production.

phosphate and nitrogen. 

tion plants). Other expected results 

to  Schyns,  this  process  produces 

tion  for  Applied  Water  Research 

(STOWA)  and  consultancy  and 

Construction  began  in  mid-2003, 

Following tests, the MBR went into 

engineering  firm  DHV,  obtained 

with the plant completed at the end 

operation at the beginning of 2005. 

LIFE-Environment  co-financing  for 

of  2004.  The  old  plant  was  main-

The plant was officially opened on 3 

the  design  and  implementation  of 

tained alongside the MBR for sev-

May 2005 by Crown Prince Willem 

the MBR. The overall objective was 

eral months, in order to lessen the 

Alexander of the Netherlands. This 

to treat the wastewater in the mem-

risk.  As  with  a  conventional  treat-

high-profile  dissemination  event, 

brane  bioreactor  and  to  demon-

ment  plant,  using  sand  filtration, 

organised  by  the  beneficiary  and 

strate its effectiveness at full-scale. 

the  membranes  treat  the  urban 

partners,  attracted  considerable 

The project aimed to show that the 

wastewater  with  bacteria  for  the 

media  attention,  receiving  cover-

effluent  would  meet  current  and 

decomposition  process.  The  dif-

age in Dutch local and national TV, 

future regulations and to show that 

ference  is  that  the  membranes,  a 

local,  regional  and  international 

MBR technology would enable both 

type  of  plastic  reed  impregnated 

press and 24-hour worldwide news 

new  and  existing  WWTPs  to  build 

with  miniscule  holes,  allow  the 

channel CNN.

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Detail 9’ MICROSIEVE TYPE I

Detail 9’’ MICROSIEVE TYPE II

Best2006-07_layout-final.indd   12

19/09/07   13:01:29

 
 
 
Water management

Best LIFE-Environment Projects 2006-2007  I  p. 3

Project results
The project closed in June 2006. The 

first  16  months’  operational  results 

and experience showed the new tech-

nology is suitable for the treatment of 

municipal wastewater. Although mem-

branes normally function best under 

constant water supply, the Varssev-

eld experiment – using a number of 

membrane compartments of modular 

construction with an advanced con-

trol system – showed it was feasible 

to  apply  the  technology  to  process 

Biological purification: bacteria feed off the waste in aeration tanks

fluctuating water supplies. Using the 

Ntotal/l  and  0.15  mg  Ptotal/l)  have 

MBRs in Europe)

membranes, the plant processes some 

been achieved. 

•  Application of (four) separate mem-

4,500 m3/day on average – producing 

brane tanks

over 755 m3/hour of clean water. Tar-

The following aspects are particularly 

•  High automation of the plant and 

get values for permeate quality (5 mg2  

innovative:

membrane cleaning processes

2 Even rates of 2.2 mg/l Ntotal/l have been 
shown

mm  microsieves  (this  is  becom-

is specific to the Netherlands, and 

ing the accepted standard for new 

the high loads that are put through 

•  Stringent  pre-treatment  using  0.8 

•  High variation in influent quantity that 

the membranes that can peak at 50 

l/m2h (this is the highest of all Euro-

pean MBR installations)

•  High reduction percentages realised 

(97% COD, 93% total nitrogen and 

99% total phosphorus)

‘Keeping the membranes 
clean’
Key to the project’s success is “keep-

ing the membranes clean” – a task whi 

ch, although fully-automated, has not 

been  without  problems.  Each  of  the 

four membrane tanks is cleaned weekly 

on a rotating basis, which places stress 

on  the  system,  especially  in  periods 

of exceptionally heavy rainfall as, for 

Detail 15 MEMBRANES

Drawing of the Varsseveld WWTP 
with membrane bioreactor

Best2006-07_layout-final.indd   13

19/09/07   13:01:38

Water management

example, the record rainfall during the 

months of June and early July 2007.

The MBR Varsseveld purification steps

Overall the MBR is functioning well, says 

Schyns,  adding  that  of  course  there 

1. Mechanical purification
  To prevent blockages, a grid removes the larger pieces of refuse, such as sanitary 

were some minor “teething” problems, 

towels, paper and plastic. Then sand and oil are removed in the sand/oil trap. In 

but these were quickly overcome. There 

addition, hair is filtered out using micro-sieves.

was however, one more serious prob-

lem,  which  emerged  only  one  month 

after start-up, threatening to undermine 

2. Biological purification
  During the biological purification process, bacteria feed off the waste in aeration 

the planned, high-profile inauguration of 

tanks, breaking the waste down into harmless residues. They also convert nitrogen 

the plant on 3 May 2005. Inexplicably, 

into nitrogen gas and absorb the phosphates. 

the membranes had become blocked 

and appeared to be coated with a sticky 

3. Sludge/water separation

substance. The problem appeared to be 

In the membrane tanks, water is separated from the bacteria-rich sludge by 

related to discharges of polymers of a 

sucking it through membranes. The water passes through the holes, and the 

cheese factory, and, following “intensive 

sludge remains.

and delicate negotiations”, the cheese 

  To prevent the membranes from becoming blocked, the pumps are occasionally 

factory agreed to collect the wastewa-

reversed and clean water is forced back through the membranes. Furthermore, 

ter with the polymers separately and to 

at the bottom of the membrane modules, an aerating function is fitted. This 

transport it by lorry to another waste-

produces bubbles which causes turbulence in the water, preventing the bacteria-

water treatment facility. Plant manager, 

rich sludge from becoming attached to the membranes. The clean water is then 

Jacques van Someren, recalls “sleep-

discharged into the Boven Slinge. Most of the bacteria-rich sludge is then reused 

less  nights”  before  the  problem  was 

in the purification process, and the rest is removed for sludge processing.

located and resolved. The membranes 

were  thoroughly  cleaned  in  mid-April 

– only days ahead of the planned royal 

4. Sludge processing
  The sludge is partly condensed and then stored at the plant. It is then transported 

visit. Thankfully, the problem has not 

periodically in tankers to a larger WWTP, where most of the water is removed 

reoccurred. 

using a decanter. The sludge is then furthered dried in a composting plant, after 

Cost-effectiveness
The  MBR  costs  are  comparable  to 

which it is incinerated. 

those of a conventional wastewater 

ing supplementary technologies such 

and partly as a result of the Varsseveld 

treatment plant requiring high quality 

as sand filtration and/or a decontami-

project, other WWTP managers have 

purified water, (that is, WWTPs requir-

nation system), and the cost differen-

also opted for the implementation of 

Project Number: 
LIFE02 ENV/NL/000117

Title: Membrane Bioreactor WWTP 
Varsseveld, first full scale demonstra-

tion of a MBR based municipal waste 

water treatment plant

Beneficiary: Waterschap Rijn en 
IJssel, (Rhine and IJssel Water 

Board), Netherlands

Total Budget: 8,055,000

LIFE Contribution: 1,585,000

Period: Oct 2002 to Jun 2006

Website: www.mbrvarsseveld.nl/

Contact: Philip Schyns

Email: p.schyns@wrij.nl

tial is minimal with respect to energy 

MBR plants (the Hilversum, Heenvliet, 

consumption.  Future  developments 

and Ootmarsum WWTPs in the Neth-

(lower  energy  consumption  and 

erlands and Tervuren WWTP in Bel-

notably, lower membrane prices) are 

gium). The knowledge and experience 

expected to lead to further cost reduc-

gained can be used to great effect in 

tions  –  making  it  increasingly  cost-

the design of new MBR plants. The 

effective. According to Schyns, there 

extensive  research  programme  has 

is also growing international interest 

provided various possibilities for opti-

in the technology notably from China 

misation that are already proving use-

and the rest of Asia. Closer to home, 

ful in future designs.

Chemical & biological water quality: standard treatment 
process vs Varsseveld MBR

Parameter in mg/l

Standard WWTP

Varsseveld MBR

Total nitrogen

Total phosphate 

Undissolved substances

10 

2

5

3.7

0.19

0

Bacteria and viruses 

Present

Absent

Best2006-07_layout-final.indd   14

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Water management

Best LIFE-Environment Projects 2006-2007  I  p. 5

Viru-Peipsi camp: 
River management in Estonia

Industrial activity and inadequate management have created serious environmental damage in 

Viru-Peipsi region of Estonia. A LIFE project helped implement the EU Water Framework Directive 

(WFD) as a means of improving water quality.

The WFD dictates that water manage-

ment plans must be introduced for all 

river basins in the European Union to 

ensure the sustainable management 

of  water  resources.  While  Estonia 

aims to introduce a National Environ-

mental Action Plan, a specific plan for 

the Viru-Peipsi catchment area was  

also needed. Water quality had suf-

fered as a result of oil-shale mining, 

industrial activities, mining, agricultu-

ral activities, the mismanagement of 

Water quality in the Viru-Peipsi catchment area had long suffered from the effects 
of industrial activities

oil  and  fuel  stocks,  and  inadequate 

The main achievement of the project 

The project was also instrumental in 

waste  management.  The  negative 

was the drawing up of a River Basin 

improving stakeholder dialogue and 

consequences have been the develo-

Management  Plan  (RBMP)  through 

participation. The project carried out 

pment of depression cones, an acce-

the consultation of experts and the 

wide-ranging  dissemination  activi-

lerated movement of pollutants from 

involvement of the public. The bene-

ties, including broadcasts on Esto-

one aquifer to another, and the eutro-

ficiary,  the  Ministry  of  the  Environ-

nian national television. It also built 

phication of the shallow Lake Peipsi. 

ment, will use the draft plan as the 

up  a  dialogue  with  Russia,  which 

basis for the final RBMP, which will 

borders Lake Peipsi.

The LIFE project aimed to develop a 

be completed according to the sche-

management plan for the Viru-Peipsi 

dule set in the WFD. The project also 

catchment area, in order to enhance 

helped revise legislation on the deli-

the protection of the water resources 

neation  of  river  basin  districts  and 

of  the  Narva  river  and  Lake  Peipsi 

groundwater bodies.  

basins.  Its  long-term  goal  was  the 

cessation  of  discharges,  emissions 

To develop the draft RBMP, the pro-

and release of hazardous substances 

ject  carried  out  inventory  and  data 

listed in the EU Priority List, the EU 

gathering  activities  in  co-operation 

Lists I and II of Dangerous Substan-

with  the  relevant  national  institu-

ces, and the list of hazardous subs-

tions.  The  project  also  produced  a 

tances in Estonia. 

Water protection and clean-up 
measures

cost  assessment  for  reducing  the 

municipal, agricultural and industrial 

pollution load, and proposed water 

protection and clean-up measures.  

Another key aspect of the project was 

the provision of valuable experience 

and  expertise  for  the  development 

of  the  final  RBMP.  Capacity  buil-

ding activities included the training 

Project Number: 
LIFE00 ENV/EE/000925

Title: Viru and Peipsi Catchment 
Area Management Plan

Beneficiary: Ministry of the Environ-
ment, Republic of Estonia  

Total Budget: 1,668,000

LIFE Contribution: 500,000

Period: Dec 2001 to Sep 2005

of technical staff in monitoring and 

Website: www.envir.ee/viru.peipsi

sampling, as well as the upgrading 

of technical equipment (for example, 

PCs, and GIS and MIS applications).  

Contact: Indrek Tamberg

Email: indrek.tamberg@ekm.envir.ee

Best2006-07_layout-final.indd   15

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Water management

URC: Demonstrating Ultrasonic 
Resonance Cleaning in Germany

Ultrasonic Resonance Cleaning (URC) offers several advantages over traditional methods for 

treating wastewater. The ‘Ultraschallreinigung’ LIFE project aimed to develop three prototypes 

of URC to demonstrate the efficiency and feasibility of the technology.

In each of the three areas, URC was 

The pilot plants were installed in stand-

successfully applied leading to:

ard containers and are easily trans-

•  A reduction of COD/TOC (the ratio 

portable to other locations of interest 

of chemical oxygen to total organic 

for test application. For example, the 

carbon,  an  indication  of  organic 

University of Wales was expected to 

pollution) in the leakage water of a 

attempt  to  use  the  technology  in  a 

waste dump of 50%; 

project involving Welsh Water.

•  Lower energy requirements due to 

the controlled input of power sourc-

The beneficiary also attempted to find 

es and oxygen providers in a limited 

new fields of application. Most of the 

amount of space; 

project’s communications were targeted 

•  A reduction of ammonia of 50% dur-

to reach these goals. The beneficiary 

ing wastewater pre-treatment with 

also planned a media campaign on the 

50-70% less strip air consumption; 

market launch of the new technology.

•  Disinfection of the run-off of com-

munal wastewater plant, achieving 

URC  is  an  inexpensive  device,  both 

a 103-fold decrease in bacteria; 

in terms of initial outlay and operating 

•  Faster treatment of pollutant charg-

costs. The beneficiary estimates that 

ers, since substances are brought 

cost savings of 50% can be made in 

more quickly into a liquid phase: a 

the  field  of  ammonia  reduction  and 

ten-minute treatment instead of six 

treatment of contaminated waste water. 

weeks with a traditional biological 

Furthermore, the process is transfera-

purification plant;

ble to a wide range of water treatment 

•  A considerable reduction of cost per 

processes.  Three  companies  have 

Ultrasonic Resonance Cleaning 
is inexpensive both to acquire and 
to maintain

A LIFE project, which was undertaken 

treated cubic metre of wastewater, 

already declared their interest in apply-

by  Ultra  Sonic  Systems,  designed 

in the range of 20-50% and even 

ing or distributing the technology.

URC  prototypes  for  use  in  different 

higher, e.g., 60% in the case of am-

EU countries and in three typical fields 

monia reduction.

of application: the standard wastewa-

ter cleaning requirements of the food 

To  achieve  the  desired  reduction  in 

and  beverage  industries;  municipal 

ammonia for the standard waste-water 

or special waste dumping sites; and 

facility,  the  beneficiary  completely 

drinking-water purification plants. The 

redeveloped the original design. For 

aim of the project was to demonstrate 

the other pilot plant designed for dis-

that  the  technology  is  reliable  and 

infection, a long period of testing was 

Project Number: 
LIFE02 ENV/D/000404

Title: Waste Water Cleaning through 
Ultrasonic Resonance

Beneficiary: Ultra Sonic Systems 
GmbH  

superior  to  the  treatment  technolo-

necessary, as every new field of imple-

Total Budget: 2,015,000

gies  currently  in  use.  The  contami-

mentation requires optimisation of a 

whole range of process parameters. 
The results of the project are continu-

LIFE Contribution: 583,000  

Period: Sept 2002 to May 2005   

ously updated on the project website 

Website: www.ultra-sonic-systems.de/

nant  load  of  the  wastewater  would 

be  reduced  to  below  the  threshold 
at which wastewater may be drained 

into a water body or used as process 

water. The know-how generated dur-

During  the  project,  the  benefici-

ing the project would be used to opti-

ary  focussed  on  finding  partners  in 

mise the system and to prepare for a 

other countries to work with in order 

broad market entry.  

to spread the use of the technology. 

Contact: Ulrich K. Poeschl / 
Ulla Poeschl

Email: upk@ultra-sonic-systems.com /  
up@ultra-sonic-systems.com

Best2006-07_layout-final.indd   16

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Water management

Best LIFE-Environment Projects 2006-2007  I  p. 7

EcoRiver: Demonstrating the benefits 
of an eco-toxicological approach

Wastewater composition is complex, with a range of different components that interact with each 

other. The Portuguese EcoRiver project sought to demonstrate how in the River Trancão area, 

an eco-toxicological evaluation of the toxicity of effluents is superior to just a chemical-specific 

approach.

The  River  Trancão  and  its  adjacent 

The EcoRiver project’s main objective 

The  project  organisers  thus  recom-

basin, just north of Lisbon, may not 

was to demonstrate the importance of 

mend the use of modelling in receiv-

be  a  very  big  area,  but  it  is  quite 

eco-toxicology for wastewater man-

ing-waters  monitoring  programmes 

heavily  industrialised  and  densely 

agement and at the same time estab-

and in the definition of toxicity limits 

populated.  The  Trancão  flows  into 

lish planning and control techniques 

for discharges based on discharged 

the  Tagus  estuary,  one  of  the  larg-

for industrial and municipal wastewa-

flow and dilution capacity. 

est  rivers  in  Portugal.  All  of  these 

ter networks in Portugal. 

attributes  made  the  basin  suitable 

Additionally, the project found that the 

for a LIFE demonstration project that 

The project integrated both an eco-

ecological characterisation of receiv-

could  compare  several  methods  of 

toxicological  and  a  complementary 

ing systems would benefit from sedi-

evaluating eco-toxicity from multiple 

physico-chemical  study  of  waste-

ment studies with chemical, eco-toxi-

effluent types.

waters from industries from different 

cological and biological components.

The  composition  of  wastewater  is 

and  São  João  da  Talha  wastewater 

complex  and  the  range  of  different 

treatment  plants  and  the  receiving 

sectors in the local area, the Frielas 

components  are  not  easily  identifi-

waters.

able. Moreover, toxicity depends on 

the  interaction  between  these  dif-

EcoRiver demonstrated that method-

ferent  components  and  so  an  eco-

toxicological evaluation will be more 

ologies  for  a  direct  toxicity  assess-
ment approach were indeed available 

relevant to the protection of ecologi-

for  use  and  should  be  used  in  the 

cal systems than a chemical-specific 

evaluation  and  control  of  complex 

evaluation.  A  chemical  approach 

wastewater toxicity. The project also 

alone is not sufficient to evaluate the 

found  that  the  tests  should  also  be 

toxicity  of  effluents.  Furthermore, 

performed  under  a  quality  control 

eco-toxicology is a field that is grow-

system,  and  that  eco-toxicological 

ing in importance within environmen-

evaluation  of  effluents  discharging 

tal policy.

into  sanitary  systems  can  provide 

important  information  to  support 

In  many  European  countries,  one 

wastewater treatment plant manage-

effective strategy in minimising eco-

ment. The eco-toxicological approach 

toxicological  pressure  in  the  envi-

is clearly of added value in the hazard 

ronment caused by wastewater is a 

and  risk  assessment  of  discharges 

‘Direct  Toxicity  Assessment’  (DTA), 

into receiving waters and can contrib-

an eco-toxicological measuring tool 

ute to a more correct establishment of 

that has a good cost-to-benefit ratio. 

discharge conditions.

However,  in  Portugal,  before  the 

EcoRiver LIFE project, co-ordinated 

Modelling  was  demonstrated  to  be 

by  the  Instituto  do  Ambiente,  there 

a useful tool in the evaluation of the 

was no relevant legal framework for 

impact  of  effluents  on  the  receiv-

this, so there was a real need to fill 

ing waters. Specifically, the project’s 

in gaps in national legislation and at 

models  evaluated  suggested  man-

the same time develop the necessary 

agement  actions,  identified  risk 

related scientific framework.

areas and seasonal critical periods. 

A chemical approach alone is often not 
sufficient for evaluating the toxicity 
of effluents

Project Number: 
LIFE02 ENV/P/000416

Title: EcoRiver - Ecotoxicological 
evaluation of municipal and industrial 

waste waters

Beneficiary: Instituto do Ambiente

Total Budget: 1,151,000

LIFE Contribution: 518,000

Period: Oct 2002 to Sept 2005

Website: www.iambiente.pt/
ecoriver/pt/novidades.html

Contact: Maria Tereza Vinhas

Email: tereza.vinhas@iambiente.pt

Best2006-07_layout-final.indd   17

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Water management

TANWATER: Tannery achieves over 
80% cut in nitrogen discharge

The Tanwater project from Sweden successfully demonstrated that it is possible to reduce the 

nitrogen discharge from the leather industry by more than 80% in a cost-effective way. Current 

technologies achieve a reduction of about 30%, so the project’s results have significant transfer 

potential for other European tanneries.

The project developed and tested in 

ter concept is around the same as the 

full-scale at the Elmo tannery, the lar-

conventional treatment, even though it 

gest tannery in Scandinavia, located in 

Svenljunga in western Sweden, a new 

technology  for  treating  wastewater 

that applies nitrification and de-nitrifi-

is more efficient. The treatment cost is 
approximately €1.5 - €1.6 m3, including 
the original investment cost.

cation processes. The technology had 

Finally, the new wastewater treatment 

previously not been considered feasi-

technology also gives better results 

ble  in  tannery  wastewater  treatment 

than the current best available tech-

plants due to the complex composition 

niques (BATs) for the tannery sector 

of tannery wastewater. 

and, as a result, the beneficiary has 

participated  in  meetings  with  the 

The project was implemented by the 

European IPPC Bureau2 in Seville (part 

Elmo Leather AB tannery in Sweden, 

of JRC/IPTS) to discuss the revision of 

the beneficiary and subsidiary of the 

the so-called “BREF” reference docu-

The Elmo tannery is one of the oldest 
and largest tanneries in western Sweden

Elmo Leather Group, the world’s lar-

ment for tanneries. 

gest manufacturer of high-end leather 

furniture and a major supplier of leather 

The current BREF for the tanning indus-

Leather  tanning  (the  process  of 

to the automotive industry.  

try was adopted in February 2003 and is 

converting raw hides into leather) is 

available at: http://eippcb.jrc.es/pages/

a raw-materials and labour-intensive 

The construction of the new plant star-

FActivities.htm.  The  revised  BREF  is 

industry.  It  is  also  a  potentially  pol-

ted in March 2004, with the plant ope-

expected to be finalised in 2009.

lution-intensive  industry.  Europe’s 

rational by April 2005. The wastewater 

3,000-plus tanneries release wastewa-

treatment process has been monitored 

ter  originating  from  wet  processing 

since the launch of the plant, and tests 

(in the beamhouse and the tanyard) 

have shown that the process is also 

and  the  post-tanning  operations. 

stable under different weather condi-

This  wastewater  usually  contains  a 

tions. The project’s results have been 

high concentration of nitrogen, which 

impressive:  It  achieved  a  reduction 

is difficult to remove due to its high 

in nitrogen of 86% – higher than the 

solubility. Nitrogen is a major environ-

expected 80%. The nitrogen load from 

mental problem in many countries, as 

the plant is 21 tonnes a year, a marked 

high  nitrate  levels  can  cause  eutro-

decrease on the previous 104 tonnes 

phication1  of  watercourses  and  the 

a  year  using  conventional  biological 

2 The European IPPC Bureau of the Euro-
pean Commission (DG Joint Research 
Centre) organises an exchange of techni-
cal information on BATs under the IPPC 
Directive (96/61/EC), and prepares the 
reference documents (BREFs).

Project Number: 
LIFE03 ENV/S/000595

Title: Reduction of the nitrogen 
discharge from the leather industry

pollution of groundwater, a source for 

treatment.  Monitoring  of  the  envi-

Beneficiary: Elmo Leather AB  

drinking water. 

1 Eutrophication refers to the accumula-
tion of nutrients (nitrates and phosphates) 
in a body of water. This process can occur 
naturally, but recently has been accele-
rated by nutrients’ runoff from activities 
(farms and sewage) input. Algal blooms 
result and their decay removes dissolved 
oxygen, eliminating aerobic organisms 
such as fish.

ronmental impact of the tannery also 

showed  a  reduction  in  biochemical 

oxygen demand (BOD) of 98%, chemi-

Total Budget: 5,119,000 

LIFE Contribution: 914,000

cal oxygen demand (COD) of 92% and 

Period: Dec 2002 to May 2006

chromium of 87% (performance from 

September 2005 to December 2006). 

Website: www.tanwater.net

Contact: Leif Svensson

The cost of treating wastewater from 

the leather industry using the Tanwa-

Email: 
leif.svensson@elmoleather.com

Best2006-07_layout-final.indd   18

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Water management

Best LIFE-Environment Projects 2006-2007  I  p. 9

Recyclaqua: Worms put to work 
processing wastewater

Traditional wastewater treatment normally takes up large amounts of space and produces 

un-decomposed sludge that is often burnt in incinerators. The French Recyclaqua LIFE project, 

however, showed that employing worms instead uses far less land, produces no sludge and 

can be implemented on an industrial scale.

The  earthworm  (Eisenia  Andrei),  the 

worms  to  treat  organically  polluted 

By the end of the project, the lumbri-

wiggly unacknowledged janitor of the 

water (OPW) instead, is feasible both 

filtration system was operational, met 

world,  has  worked  day-in,  day-out, 

technologically and economically.

all quality requirements for processed 

looking after the planet’s soils for hun-

wastewater under French law, and was 

dreds of millions of years. Following 

The lumbri-filter consists of a 20- to 30-

being used by the local town. 

the work of one successful and pio-

cm-thick active organic substrate layer 

neering wastewater processing LIFE 

(a mixture of wood chips and bark) in 

Municipalities  across  the  world  have 

demonstration project in the south of 

which the earthworms live, placed over 

expressed interest in the system, and 

France, these hard-working, hermaph-

a 70-cm substrate that itself lies atop 

elected  representatives  from  all  over 

roditic little caretakers are now getting 

a gravel bed. 

their day in the sun - or rather, their 

France have visited the plant and shown 

interest in exporting the system to their 

day covered in organic substrate and 

The wastewater is sieved on its arrival 

own wastewater treatment plants. 

organically polluted wastewater – as 

at the plant to remove any large parti-

international media from Chile, Spain, 

cles and then sprinkled over the surface 

Germany  and  further  afield  visit  the 

of the substrate through which it filters, 

‘Recyclaqua’ venture to see how the 

leaving behind any organic particles in 

technology could be exported to their 

suspension, which the earthworms then 

own wastewater systems. 

transform into mineral matter by diges-

tion.  Earthworms  are  inoculated  into 

Wastewater  is  normally  treated  by 

the  upper  layer  together  with  a  layer 

decomposing  the  organic  matter  it 

of vermi-compost (a mixture of blonde 

contains under aerobic (‘with air’) or 

peat and pine bark vermi-composted for 

anaerobic  (‘without  air’)  conditions. 

at least six months) after the lumbri-filter 

This generally takes place in a liquid 

has been ‘watered’ for the first time. 

medium  (activated  sludge,  bacteria 

beds, lagooning, etc.), which requires 

Sieved wastewater is regularly sprayed 

extremely large surface areas or vol-

over  the  circular  lumbri-filter  by  a 

umes  (extensive  lagooning  requires 

revolving sprinkler arm, ensuring that 

around  10  m2  per  inhabitant)  or  the 

wastewater  is  spread  evenly  before 

construction of costly plants that accel-

percolating. 

erate decomposition and produce an 

un-decomposed  ‘mass’,  or  sewage 

The main advantage of this process is 

sludge,  which  is  finally  digested  in 

in the minimal amount of sludge it pro-

The lumbi-filtration sewage treatment 
process

Project Number: 
LIFE03 ENV/F/000257

Title: A new sewage treatment 
process: the vermifiltration. Demon-
stration-dissemination technically 

and environmentally integrated

fields or burnt in incinerators. 

duces, which almost entirely consists 

Beneficiary: Mairie de Combaillaux  

However, the LIFE Recyclaqua project, 

ment, and which is transformed on site 

located  in  the  rural  community  of 

into vermi-compost. Lumbri-filtration is 

of the matter removed during pre-treat-

Total Budget: 1,178,000

LIFE Contribution: 381,000

Combaillaux and employing technol-

not therefore merely a filtration proc-

Period: Dec 2002 to Nov 2005

ogy  developed  by  Soil  Zooecology 

ess; it also dispenses with the problem 

Lab at the National Institute for Agro-

of sludge. The virtually odourless and 

nomic Research and the University of 

noiseless system also had the advan-

Montpellier 2 - Water Sciences Unit, 

tage of requiring little surface area (0.25 

has demonstrated that a new process, 

to 0.5 m2 per inhabitant) and using a 

lumbri-filtration,  which  uses  earth-

minimal amount of energy. 

Website: 
www.recyclaqua.agropolis.fr

Contact: Daniel Floutard

Email: 
mairie.combaillaux@wanadoo.fr

1
3
0
/
T
N

I
/
Y
C
T
3
0
E
F
L

I

Best2006-07_layout-final.indd   19

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4
6
0
0
0
0
/
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I
/
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I

Minimising the environmental 
impact of economic activities

European  Union  policy  on  the  environmental  impact  of  economic  activities  is 

implemented through a wide range of instruments. The most important legislation 

includes the 1996 Directive on Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC), 

which  aims  to  minimise  emissions  into  water,  air  and  soil  from  industrial  point 

sources throughout Europe. The directive defines common rules on the author-

isation  of  permits  for  industrial  installations,  which  have  to  be  based  on  Best 

Available  Techniques  (BAT).  BAT  refers  to  the  most  advanced  techniques  that 

can be used to achieve a high level of environmental protection for the industrial 

sector in question. 

Directive (96/61/EC) http://ec.europa.eu/environment/ippc/index.htm

Best2006-07_layout-final.indd   20

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Minimising the impact 
of economic activities

Best LIFE-Environment Projects 2006-2007  I  p. 2

REF: Producing coated material in 
a faster, quieter, cleaner and more 
economical way

The production of coated material for Europe’s infrastructure, roads, car parks and pathways 

results in wasted energy and fuel and significant fine particle emissions. Using LIFE funding, 

UK SME Mixlance has developed a series of innovations to create a modern production plant 

that reduces electricity use by up to 75% and gas and oil consumption by up to 30%. The pro-
cess cuts operation costs and times, uses less space, reduces gas (C02) and particle emissions 
and is totally waste free.

of innovations to reduce the economic 

and environmental costs of the batch 

heater. Jed Smyth - managing direc-

tor of Mixlance - firmly believes that 

if they had not received LIFE funding 

to develop the innovations, no 

one else would do it. “The 

quarrying  industry  is  a 

bit  of  a  dinosaur,”  he 

explained.  “The  REF 

project  had  to  take 

the batch heater plant 

kicking  and  screaming 

into the 21st Century.”

S
E
B

T 2006-2007
BEST OF THE 

The modular unit developed by REF is shorter and takes up less space on the ground 
than traditional plants producing coated material

A new modular concept
The  core  concept  of  the  new  batch 

heater was modular design. Mixlance 

divided the plant into four modules and 

redesigned each to fit into a standard 

The  majority  of  the  coated  material 

ing a different recipe, the asphalt plant 

ISO shipping container. This part of the 

needed in Europe is produced by con-

has to empty out the remaining ‘in-

process was like doing a puzzle, modi-

ventional  asphalt  plants.  These  mix 

flight’ product as waste. An asphalt 

fying the different components so that 

a  prescribed  ‘recipe’  of  base  mate-

plant  jettisons  up  to  60  tonnes  of 

they would fit into the available space 

rial such as stone and dust - known 

material per day in this way, wasting 

without compromising the functioning 

as aggregate - with bitumen to form 

the aggregate itself and all the energy 

of the fully constructed plant.

coated material. Asphalt plants pro-

and fuel used to mix and heat it.

duce  large  quantities  of  material  in 

The whole plant can now be shipped 

a  relatively  efficient  way.  However, 

Batch heaters were developed spe-

anywhere in the world in just four eas-

many customers do not require large 

cifically to produce small volumes - 

ily  transported  containers.  Further-

volumes of the same type of coated 

batches - of coated material accord-

more, because each module can be 

material.

ing  to  the  requirements  of  each 

part-constructed before shipping and 

Customers working to repair a road 

more efficient at switching between 

system, the actual construction time 

that  has  been  damaged  or  dug  up, 

recipes, but still showed major inef-

on site is reduced from 16 to just six 

re-lay a driveway or create a new path 

ficiencies in operation.

weeks, saving vital resources.

customer.  The  batch  heaters  were 

then  erected  using  a  ‘plug-and-go’ 

will require relatively small amounts of 

a particular variety of coated material. 

Mixlance,  a  UK  SME,  sought  to 

The modular design reduced the area 

Whenever a customer arrives request-

develop, test and demonstrate a series 

of  land  taken  up  by  the  plant  from 

Best2006-07_layout-final.indd   21

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Minimising the impact 
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nearly  120m²  to  just  20m²  and  the 

motor used to turn the wheels and the 

total height of the structure is down 

90kW fan can therefore be switched 

from  25m  to  only  12m.  This  means 

off, providing savings of EUR 0.15 per 

reduced visual pollution and the need 

kW hour during periods of inactivity.

to use less energy to move material 

around the plant.

The introduction of lagging to the bar-

rel shell increased its retention of heat, 

The greatest benefit, however, is that 

reducing the cycle time and therefore 

the smaller size makes it much easier 

fuel consumption even further. These 

to erect the plant in an urban environ-

innovations have enabled significant 

ment, where space is at a premium 

cost reductions and energy savings on 

and planning permission constraints 

days when there are gaps in demand.

can preclude larger structures. A plant 

can  thus  be  erected  close  to  urban 

construction projects needing coated 

Variable rotation speeds
During  the  production  process,  the 

material, which reduces the distance 

aggregate  is  cascaded  in  a  barrel. 

The even distribution of aggregate in 
the barrel means the powerful flame 
heats it more efficiently

lorries  need  to  travel  and  conse-

The  lifting  and  falling  of  the  batch 

During field trials with the lead partner 

quently their fuel consumption.

within the barrel creates a ‘curtain’ of 

CEMEX - a producer of coated mate-

Hibernation mode
Perhaps  the  major  source  of  inef-

material which is heated by a conical 

rial - Mixlance found that varying the 

flame burner. The efficiency of drying 

rotation speed for different batch sizes 

and then heating the aggregate to the 

could  improve  the  results.    As  Jed 

ficiency and wastage in the conven-

required temperature for coating with 

Smyth recalled, “We used inverters to 

tional process was during short peri-

bitumen depends on the quality and 

rotate batch sizes from 0.5 to 3 tonnes 

ods of inactivity. Although the burner 

evenness of the material curtain.

at different speeds and monitored the 

could  be  switched  to  pilot  flame,  it 

material  curtain.  We  even  blew  up 

was not possible to stop the turning of 

Conventional  batch  heaters  rotate 

motors seeing how far we could go.” 

the barrel as this would have melted 

their barrels at a constant speed of 

The result of these tests was the iden-

the rubber/polymer tyres it rests on.

13rpm. However, at any given speed, 

tification of specific rotation speeds to 

different weights of material lift and 

produce the optimum material curtain 

Mixlance  solved  this  problem  by 

fall in different ways. This has meant 

for each weight of material.

developing a lifting cradle that allows 

that for some batches, the ‘curtain’ is 

the  support  rollers  to  stop  turning 

far from even. Parts of the flame are 

The efficiency gains were impressive. 

and the barrel to be lifted into the air 

hitting  empty  space  rather  than  the 

It takes a plant approximately 90 sec-

where  it  can  rest  safely.  The  37kW 

aggregate and thus wasting fuel.

onds to heat three tonnes of material 

The innovative lifting cradle enables the barrel to stop spinning without melting 
the wheels

to the required temperature at 13rpm. 

At  the  optimum  rotation  speed,  it 

takes just 75 seconds. This does not 

just  represent  15  seconds  of  saved 

time, but 15 seconds shorter burning 

time and a 15-20% reduction in fuel 

consumption.

Innovative ‘pulse jet’ filter
A  further  innovation  was  the  intro-

duction  of  a  new  compressed-air 

‘pulse  jet’  cleaning  system.  This 

takes  dust-laden  air  from  the  pro-

cess  through  specially  adapted 

filter  sleeves.  The  cleaning  pulse 

forces  cleaned  hot  air  back  down 

the sleeves to remove the particles. 

The  steady  state  conditions  within 

the pulse jet filter assist in achieving 

consistent  volume  flows  under  all 

plant operating conditions.

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Minimising the impact 
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Best LIFE-Environment Projects 2006-2007  I  p. 23

is  not  reached  before  the  bitumen 

is  added.  At  this  stage,  an  aborted 

batch can be easily recycled back into 

the process.

Greater amounts of recycled material 

- up to 50% - can also now be incor-

porated into the ingredient recipe as 

the process is better able to control 

and manage the mix of the different 

materials in the right quantities and at 

the appropriate moment. A specially 

designed  hopper  -  with  a  narrower 

opening for a better flow of material 

- allows for recovered cold road plan-

ings to be successfully added to the 

process via the existing feed system.

Impact and transferability
Dave  Hunt,  commercial  manager 

for  CEMEX  at  the  operational  plant 

in Leeds, points out that one of the 

Lorries wait less time than ever before to collect the final coated material

The main advantage of the filter is that 

The  cleaning  pulse  also  removes 

most  notable  achievements  of  the 

it  achieves  a  more  consistent  dust 

the vast majority of cold cleaning air 

project  is  that  “everyone  wins:  the 

removal pattern. New UK regulations 

entering into the filter, thereby mini-

new  plant  benefits  the  environment 

stipulate that the emitted air cannot 

mising dew point problems and short-

through zero waste and reduced pol-

contain more than 50mg of fine par-

term bag damage. The excellent inlet 

lution;  the  operator  enjoys  reduced 

ticles per m³. However, the pulse jet 

air distribution system minimises local 

running costs; and the customers on 

filter gives results consistently under 

bag wear and the filter’s performance 

the  ground  get  the  same  quality  of 

10mg,  and  a  plant  in  the  Midlands 

is not impaired by production prob-

product, only more quickly.”

using the new sleeve design recently 

lems  associated  with  high  moisture 

confirmed  emissions  of  under  3mg 

sand.  These  benefits  provide  lower 

Indeed, what is exceptional about this 

per m³. This is unheard of in the field 

operation  and  wear-and-tear  costs 

modular batch heater is that there are 

and suggests the possibility of more 

and since no motors or generators are 

quite  literally  no  disadvantages  of 

stringent environmental legislation on 

needed, noise pollution is reduced.

using  this  technology.  There  are  no 

fine-particle emissions.

Project Number: 
LIFE03 ENV/UK/000615

Title: REF - Demonstration of a 
Recycling, Energy Efficient and Envi-

ronmentally Friendly Modular Batch 

Heater Plant

Beneficiary: Mixlance (Technical 
Services) Ltd   

Total Budget: 4,876,000

client.

LIFE Contribution: 1,004,000

Period: Oct 2003 to Apr 2006

Computer-operated process
One of the project partners, Batching 

compromises. As the project material 

states, the modernised process sim-

ply makes the future of coated mate-

and Blending Systems Ltd., wrote a 

rial “smaller, shorter, cheaper, faster, 

protocol for the batch heater process, 

quieter [and] cleaner.”

which Steve Smith - one of the opera-

tives at the CEMEX plant in Leeds - 

Its transferability is extremely high, as 

describes as being “simplicity itself.” 

coated  material  is  produced  across 

The  system  allows  the  operator  to 

Europe, but no one else is currently 

select  the  exact  mix  of  ingredients 

to  produce  the  right  quantity  of  the 

specific aggregate requested by each 

producing  it  so  efficiently.  CEMEX 
has  already  commissioned  a  new 
€2.25-million plant in Bristol using the 
project technology. The project team 

is convinced that this is a technology 

This ensures that there is no waste, 

that will be used widely in the future 

since  everything  that  goes  into  the 

because  the  economic  advantages 

Website: www.mixlance.com/LIFE/

barrel  comes  out  as  final  product. 

are so clear. When this happens, the 

Contact: Jed Smyth  

Email: jed@mixlance.com

The  system  also  prevents  waste  by 

environmental  benefits  from  lower 

enabling the operator to abort a batch 

fuel use and reduced emissions will 

if the adequate temperature or weight 

be substantial.

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Minimising the impact 
of economic activities

PVTrain: Applying photovoltaic cells 
to railways  

Innovative in the railway sector, this Italian LIFE project successfully assessed the possibility of using 

photovoltaic cells on railway carriages and locomotives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, minimise 

the generation of dangerous waste, and save energy. 

It rarely happens that one manages to 

see a diesel railcar Aln 668 that has 

been in service for more than 50 years 

just standing in the blazing Italian sun. 

But recently, it’s not only trainspotters 

that have been interested in giving it 

a closer look. 

Along  with  nine  other  vehicles,  the 

vintage  locomotive  was  the  subject 

of Italian LIFE project PVTrain, which 

BEST OF THE 
T 2006-2007

B
E
S

aimed to verify the feasibility of 

the  use  of  solar  power  to 

keep  on-board  accumu-

lators  charged  during 

breaks in power supply. 

Specifically, the project 

aimed  to  decrease  the 

railway  sector’s  con-

sumption  of  energy  from 

conventional sources, cut its 
CO2  emissions,  and  reduce  the 
problematic  disposal  of  waste  from 

onboard accumulators by extending 

their lifespan. 

PVTrain on track – photovoltaic cells have been applied to locomotives, coaches 
and wagons. 

The main question to address was that 

lar charging/discharging cycles. This 

hardly  ever  been  applied  to  rolling 

currently, Trenitalia’s electric back-up 

results in high levels of wear and tear 

stock, despite the significant poten-

systems are powered by a 3kV direct 

current  contact  line,  energy  that  is 

collected from the overhead lines via 

in  the  accumulators,  as  well  as  of 
energy use and CO2 emissions. Alter-
native sources of power, such as solar 

tial  environmental  and  economic 

benefits.  The  main  challenges  to 

the innovative technology included 

the electric locomotive’s pantograph 

energy, could help bridge these inter-

the  tough  physical  conditions  that 

and then distributed to the rest of the 

ruptions in the power supply. 

PV cells need to withstand, such as 

train. Any interruption of power sup-

the high speed of the trains, or spe-

ply affects the accumulators, leading 

However, at the start of the project, 

cial requirements with regard to the 

to them to undergo numerous irregu-

photovoltaic  (PV)  technology  had 

cells’ thickness and their shape.

Installation of US 116 modules on locomotive E 636

Nevertheless,  the  project  ben-

eficiary,  Trenitalia,  the  transport 

company  of  Italy’s  state  railway 

group, Gruppo Ferrovie dello Stato, 

believed in the potential advantages 

of  PV  technology  and  decided  to 

implement a LIFE project to experi-

ment on its fleet of trains. 

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Best LIFE-Environment Projects 2006-2007  I  p. 25

Minimising the impact 
of economic activities

“What I am really proud of is that we 

have been the first rail transport com-

pany applying PV technology to trains 

and testing it on such a broad range 

of vehicles. I am glad that we had the 

courage to do so,” says Alessandro 

Basili,  the  project’s  manager.  “LIFE 

can really be seen as the accelerator 

of the initiative. The co-funding defi-

nitely helped us start experimenting 

on the use of PV technology on trains 

back in 2002.” 

Possible uses of solar energy 
on trains
The project, which ran from Novem-

ber 2002 to October 2005, used for 

the  experiment  the  amorphous  sili-

con  ‘Photovoltaic  Tile’  and  US  116 

modules  (made  of  triple-junction 

amorphous  silicon,  encapsulated 

16 trays, curved with the same radius as the roof, carefully positioned 

in a polymer, with an anodised alu-

minium frame, and applied to a steel 

plate). Due to their structural charac-

Electric application 
In  order  to  use  the  energy  pro-

to power the low voltage appliances 

installed on board the vehicles. 

teristics,  both  models  perform  well 

duced by the chosen PV system as 

in conditions of poor solar radiation. 

efficiently  as  possible,  the  project 

Initially, the converter presented prob-

The two models are also particularly 

team designed and created special 

lems linked to incorrect calibration of 

suitable for curved surfaces such as 

converters that transform the solar 

the  control  software.  A  process  of 

those of train roofs. The photovoltaic 

energy  into  electric  power  with  a 

streamlining  the  capturing  mecha-

tiles were installed on five passenger 

voltage  and  current  suitable  for 

nism  to  the  maximum  power  of  the 

coaches and the US 116 photovoltaic 

recharging the rolling stock’s batter-

converter, carried out as soon as the 

panels on two locomotives and three 

ies. This converter is able to adapt 

necessary solar conditions prevailed 

freight coaches. 

to the extremely variable conditions 

(in May 2004) and based on research 

caused by the movement of the vehi-

into the maximum power generation 

Depending on where the photovoltaic 

cle it is on, for instance when rapidly 

under different radiation conditions, 

panels are installed, the energy produced 

entering or leaving a tunnel. It also 

was successful. 

can be put to different uses. They can 

ensures galvanic isolation from the 

be applied to passenger coaches and 

power  supply  line  in  case  of  acci-

locomotives to recharge the accumula-

dental  contacts.  Its  main  tasks  are 

Research results
Since the photovoltaic panels were 

tors as an alternative to the main power 

to  recharge  the  accumulators  and 

been installed, the ten PV vehicles 

supply, but also to support the engine 

starters of diesel locomotives (which are 

equipped with an autonomous power 

supply and therefore not connected to 

the high-voltage 3kV line). 

As  shown  by  PVTrain,  a  potential 

large-scale  application  could  see 

their installation on freight carriages, 

which are generally not connected to 

any power supply. Here, photovoltaic 

panels can recharge accumulators in 

order to ensure the power supply for 

electric door locks intended to protect 

goods being transported.

PV  systems  can  be  equipped  with 

accumulators  that  save  electrical 

energy  during  the  day  -  especially 

during  sunlight  hours  -  for  use  at 

night or on overcast days. The energy 

is  conserved  in  batteries  (normally 

lead-acid), and a regulator prevents 

the  charge  voltage  from  exceeding 

a  set  value  to  ensure  perfect  per-

formance of the accumulator. These 

systems are usually used for applian-
ces  that  are  not  connected  to  the 

electrical mains. 

have  been  almost  constantly  en 

route  across  Europe.  Basili  says 

that 95% of the overall targets were 

achieved,  and  Fernando  Gherar-

dini, the project’s technical director, 

adds: “A major success factor was 

that all members of the project team 

did their best.” 

The  project’s  success  is  validated 

by  tests  and  measurements  that 

were  continuously  carried  out  on 

the  whole  system  to  assess  its 

performance. In this regard, a real-

time measurement system (used in 

Best2006-07_layout-final.indd   25

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Minimising the impact 
of economic activities

Alessandro Basili, project manager, and Fernando Gherardini, the project’s technical director, catch some rays in front of one 
of the two PVTrain locomotives. 

addition  to  a  field-point  system, 

keep  the  trains’  accumulators 

charged,  the  accumulators  are 

which  recorded  data  continuously 

and  auxiliary  apparatus  charged 

subjected  to  less  wear  and  tear. 

for more than twenty days consecu-

during stops, there is no need to 

The  project  team  estimates  that 

tively) proved to be extremely help-

resort to primary energy sources. 

constant maintenance of the ac-

ful. On the basis of GPS technology 

that  was  connected  with  the  roll-

ing  stock  in  real-time,  this  system 

For each kWxh of energy produced 
by traditional power plants, a CO2 
reduction of 750g is achieved with 

cumulator  charge  via  the  photo-

voltaic cells extends their life by 

an  estimated  10-20%,  equalling 

ensured the transmission and visu-

the photovoltaic modules. 

an increase in the average turno-

alisation  of  the  data  generated  by 

ver period from 48 months to 56 

the experiment. Already in place to 

  For the whole observation period, 

months.  Longer  lifespans  mean 

detect the position of about 2,000 of 

from July 2003 to October 2005, 

less hazardous waste.

Trenitalia’s goods wagons, the tech-

the energy used by the prototype 

nology was now combined with the 

ability to transmit data from the pan-

els and the battery charger. The sys-

coach was 1,378.42 kWh, result-
ing in a reduction in CO2 emissions 
of  1,033.82  kg.  Between  August 

From a railway management point of 

view, there are further advantages. 

Goods  wagons,  for  historical  rea-

tem enables the daily monitoring of 

2004 and October 2005, the energy 

sons and as a result of their use, do 

the energy status of each railcar on 

used by the prototype locomotives 

not use any power derived from the 

which it is installed, in real-time and 

was 159.3 KWh (sufficient to keep 

3kV line. Consequently, the possibil-

easily accessible via the internet. 

As shown by the trials and measure-

the on-board accumulators going), 
with a CO2 emissions reduction of 
119.95  kg.  The  energy  used  by 

ity of exploiting energy sources that 

are both alternative and low mainte-
nance is particularly interesting. PV 

ments,  the  photovoltaic  technolo-

the prototype freight wagons was 

panels could, for example, be used 

gies  provide  energy  cost  savings 

540 KWh (sufficient for the electric 

to maintain ideal temperatures and 

and  offer  two  significant  environ-

mental advantages over non-renew-
able energy sources:

locks), resulting in a reduction in 
CO2 emissions of 405.51 kg.

humidity in refrigerated wagons used 

for transporting foodstuffs (as tested 

by  Cargo  of  Trenitalia  in  a  subse-

•  Less greenhouse gas production: 

lators:  As  a  result  of  the  photo-

of  PV  technology  for  electric  locks 

Since  the  photovoltaic  modules 

voltaic cells being kept constantly 

for  goods  wagons  (an  important 

•  Longer  lifespan  of  the  accumu-

quent project). Furthermore, the use 

Best2006-07_layout-final.indd   26

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Minimising the impact 
of economic activities

Best LIFE-Environment Projects 2006-2007  I  p. 27

project success) could increase the 

below  the  set  3%  target.  And  the 

transport safety of high-value goods, 

frequently  discussed  problem  of 

such as tobacco (every year, tobacco 

the  adverse  effect  of  dirt  (such  as 

products worth several million euros 

grease and oily substances from the 

are  stolen  from  goods  wagons  in 

sliding elements of the pantograph, 

Italy).  Electric  door  locks  powered 

bird  droppings,  dust  and  scrap  of 

by solar energy, in combination with 

wiring) on the current generated by 

an alarm system and the GPS control 

the  solar  cells,  seems  to  be  negli-

system that are able to localise any 

gible. Experiments with two identi-

coach in real-time throughout Italy, 

cal panels observed over two years 

could significantly decrease the risk 

showed  that  although  one  model 

of goods theft. 

was  cleaned  once  a  week  and  the 

other was left untouched, the differ-

Theoretically,  PV  technology  could 

ence in power generation was mar-

also support better use of the railway 

ginal.  Fernando  Gherardini  points 

system  itself.  In  recent  years,  the 

out that this “self-cleaning capacity” 

delivery  times  of  railway  transport 

of the panels through rainwater was 

on  some  international  routes  have 

another reassuring result. 

doubled or even trebled, due mainly 

to  long  stopping  times  en  route  to 

give way to other priority trains, such 

PVTrain – a great potential 
According to Basili, the large-scale 

The US 116 module was chosen for its 
flexibility and ability to work well in dif-
fused light and high temperatures. 

as passenger services. According to 

implementation  of  PV  technology, 

potential  reduction  in  emissions  in 

the project team, a PV system could 

i.e., panels and converters suitable 

the case of large-scale application, 

support anti-skid breaking systems 

for the use on trains, could be very 

based on a life expectancy of the PV 

so that trains delivering goods could 

attractive, both environmentally and 

equipment of about 20 years:

possibly travel 40km/h faster than at 
present.  Consequently,  freight  and 

economically. However, he sees two 
conditions  that  would  need  to  be 

passenger trains could travel at the 

met first.

same speed, enabling a much better 

use of the whole railway system. 

On the one hand, political and eco-

Secondary  results  should  further 

encourage  the  development  and 

reassure  rail  companies  inter-

implementation  of  PV  on  moving 

ested  in  PV  technology.  Although 

appliances, which have so far been 

nomic  incentives  are  needed  to 

•  Application on around 8,600 coach-
es: 77,500 tons of CO2 not emitted, 
•  Application on around 700 locomo-
tives: 3,000 tons of CO2 not emitted, 
•  Application on around 200 freight 
wagons:  207  tons  of  CO 2  not 
emitted. 

noise  increased  for  the  passenger 

excluded from the respective legisla-

Though these are still visionary scenar-

coaches, the panels’ special design 

kept  increases  in  noise  emissions 

The converter’s electronic control 
compartment

tion. This has left PV still too expen-
sive (around € 300-400/m2,according 
to Basili) to apply on a large scale. 

On the other hand, industry will need 

to  be  pro-active  in  promoting  the 

application  of  PV  on  rolling  stock. 

Basili  is  sure  that  then,  train  com-

panies such as the Gruppo Ferrovie 

dello  Stato  would  also  be  able  to 

apply this environmentally very suc-

cessful and technically very efficient 

technology on a wide scale.

Such broad application would gen-

erate impressive results. The meas-
urement of greenhouse gases emit-

ted into the atmosphere during the 

two-year  trial  period  enabled  the 

ios, PVTrain has shown the potential of 

PV for putting railways on the track to 

more sustainable energy use. 

Project Number: 
LIFE02 ENV/IT/000064

Title: The application of innovative 
photovoltaic technology to railway 

trains

Beneficiary: Trenitalia  

Total Budget: 1,253,000

LIFE Contribution: 616,000

Period: Nov 2002 to Oct 2005

Website: www.trenitalia.com

Contact: Alessandro Basili 

LIFE  project  team  to  estimate  the 

Email: a.basili@trenitalia.it

Best2006-07_layout-final.indd   27

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Minimising the impact 
of economic activities

Vapo: Warming up to energy 
efficiency for oil heating systems

Anticipating an explosion in demand for more efficient oil combustion systems, the German 

Vapo project developed a burner system for households that delivers energy savings of five per 

cent on the best available oil-burning systems. The system also reduced carbon monoxide and 

carbon dioxide emissions by a third from their current level, lowered nitrogen oxide emissions, 

reduced noise and eradicated soot waste.

Key targets
The project aimed to develop a burner 

system that modulates between 2 and 

it allows the system to be updated with 

a new modulating oil burner.

20 kW and offers energy savings of at 

Although  the  vaporiser  is  designed 

least 5% over the current best availa-

for operation with standard light fuel 

ble oil-burning technology. The burner 

oil  and  diesel,  it  can  also  be  run  on 

would reduce CO emissions to a third 

vegetable  oils  and  fuel  mixtures.  Its 

of current levels, eliminate soot emis-

application extends beyond domestic 

sions  and  significantly  reduce  noise 

heating. It can be used in the automo-

Low-temperature exhaust systems for 
household oil are still in their infancy 

and NOx emissions.

bile industry as well as for particle filter 

regeneration  burners  and  fuel  treat-

Such  extremely  low  emissions  and 

ment of liquid fuels in combined heat 

The  heating  of  houses  and  apart-

high  efficiency  through  its  homoge-

and power units (CHP) and their sub-

ments is an important environmental 

neous combustion field and the high 

sequent combustion in gas engines.

issue for all EU countries. Domestic 

modulation range mean the system is 

heating systems make a large con-
tribution  to  carbon  dioxide  (CO2), 
nitrogen  oxide  (NOx)  and  carbon 
monoxide (CO) emissions, especially 

set to become a new standard in oil-

A  key  objective  of  the  project  was 

combustion.  The  project  anticipates 

to achieve direct integration with the 

a widespread push towards moderni-

sation to meet general environmental 

major  manufacturers  and  suppliers 
of  oil  heating  systems  Europe-wide. 

in mid-European and northern Euro-

goals.  Such  a  move  could  create  a 

Promeos, received a national German 

pean countries. While low-tempera-

market  for  500,000  oil-condensing 

award  for  start-up  companies,  and 

ture  exhaust  systems  (Brennwert-

boilers  in  the  EU.  Since  the  market 

the technological achievements of the 

technik)  for  household  gas  heating 

responds  intensely  to  state  subsidy 

project have received TV, newspaper 

have proved to be very efficient, oil 

initiatives, leading manufacturers are 

and magazine coverage.

heating systems using this technol-

seeking cleaner and more efficient oil 

ogy are still in their infancy and have 

combustion systems. Looking forward 

only  just  been  introduced  to  the 

to such prospects, Danish household 

European market.

heating company Danfoss has a finan-

cial stake in the project.

The  porous  medium  combustion 

technology for oil heating systems is 

A  prototype  was  produced  that  is 

the only technology that will be able to 

able to run across a power range of 

fulfil future requirements of extremely 

4-20kW. CO emissions are lower than 

low  combustion  emissions  and  low 

5mg/kWh,  and  NOx  emissions  are 

energy  consumption.  The  specific 

lower than 120mg/kWh. With such a 

Project Number: 
LIFE03 ENV/D/000031

Title: Oil-Porous-Burner system with 
integrated vaporizer unit

Beneficiary: Promeos GmbH  

application of this technology in the 

high modulation rate, the number of 

Total Budget: 1,452,000

combustion  area  results  in  a  very 

burner starts can be reduced and so 

clean and homogeneous combustion 

emissions are decreasing as efficiency 

of the oil vapour and air mixtures. The 

increases.  Further  developments  to 

porous medium vaporiser significantly 

the oil-supply system are necessary to 

reduces the amount of residue in the 

achieve a lower output than 4kW. The 

vaporiser and allows for the use of a 

prototype is designed to be attachable 

LIFE Contribution: 433,000

Period: May 2003 to Mar 2006

Website: www.promeos.com 

Contact: Jochen Volkert 

special self-cleaning process.

to all standard oil boilers, and therefore 

Email: volkert@promeos.com

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Minimising the impact 
of economic activities

Best LIFE-Environment Projects 2006-2007  I  p. 29

SoNatura: Natural, low-energy 
solution reduce VOC emissions 
from cork and leather industries

The SoNatura project in Portugal helped bring a cork-stopper manufacturer and a leather tannery 

in line with EU legislation on the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), employing a new 

technology that’s clean, has low energy consumption, produces no additional waste and costs less 

than traditional VOC emissions control.

The emission of volatile organic com-

The SoNatura project, co-ordinated by 

pounds, or VOCs, into the air is a major 

the Escola Superior de Biotecnologia 

contributor to the formation of ozone in 

da Universidade Católica Portuguesa 

the boundary layer of the troposphere, 

(UCAPOR), demonstrated the use of a 

which in turn causes damage to natu-

prototype VPB in agro-non-food indus-

ral resources. Worse still, high concen-

tries, specifically in the cork and leather 

trations of ozone, a potent greenhouse 

sectors. Granotec, a cork-stopper pro-

gas, in ground-level air can endanger 

ducer, and Marsipel, a leather tannery, 

the more vulnerable members of soci-

were the private-sector partners. 

ety, such as children and the elderly, 

who  experience  symptoms  such  as 

These partners were approached as the 

sore eyes, sore throats and even seri-

EU legislation imposes on the leather 

ous respiratory problems. 

industry new emissions limits, particu-

What are VOCs? They are any carbon 

in the finishing process. Most gaseous 

larly with regard to activities involved 

VPBs biodegrade VOCs into water and 
carbon dioxide

compound that participates in atmos-

emissions are produced at this stage, 

Ultimately,  the  project  contributed 

pheric photochemical reactions, and 

which entails the use of spray-paint-

to  the  development  of  novel  tech-

they mainly come from vehicle exhaust 

ing machines to apply solvent-based 

nologies for the reduction of VOCs in 

fumes, or organic solvents from chemi-

products such as pigments, dyes and 

the leather and cork industries, and 

cal plants, paint and varnish producers 

lacquers to the final leather product. 

mainly  for  emissions  coming  from 

or industries involved in surface coat-

Meanwhile, in the cork industrial sec-

leather painting cabins and the mix-

ing and printing. 

tor, it is the use of solvent-based resins 

ing  of  granulated  cork.  The  outlet 

for cork agglomeration that is the tar-

emission values were well below the 

Unfortunately, the traditionally available 

get of the Directives.

established legal limits.

physical-chemical techniques for VOC 

emissions  control,  particularly  incin-

UCAPOR first established a charac-

eration and activated carbon adsorp-

terisation  of  the  environmental  con-

tion, have high-energy costs, involve 

cerns at each site and then produced 

the  use  of  chemicals,  and  generate 

an  enrichment  of  microbial  cultures 

waste products.

that were able to biodegrade the iden-

tified  pollutants.  Characterisation  of 

Vapour  phase  bioreactors  (VPBs), 

the treatment process mimicking the 

however,  offer  a  natural  solution, 

industrial  gaseous  emissions  from 

through the biodegradation of VOCs 

Granotec and from Marsipel was first 

into water and carbon dioxide. VPBs 

carried  out  at  laboratorial  scale  and 

also  have  low  energy  consump-

then  following  the  development  of 

tion, low operation and maintenance 
requirements and require lower capi-

treatment  processes  -  again  in  the 
laboratory, the project designed VPBs 

Project Number: 
LIFE03 ENV/P/000521

Title: Vapour Phase Bioreactors for 
Agro-non-Food Industries

Beneficiary: Escola Superior 
de Biotecnologia - Universidade 

Católica Portuguesa  

Total Budget: 465,000

LIFE Contribution: 202,000

Period: Sep 2003 to Nov 2005

tal  investment.  They  offer  a  natural 

and piloted them via a mathematical 

Website: www.esb.ucp.pt/sonatura

treatment  system  almost  without 

model.  Granotec  and  Marsipel  then 

waste generation, and thus are well 

co-ordinated the operation of actual 

accepted by the public.

pilot-scale units at the industrial sites.

Contact: Paula Castro

Email: plcastro@esb.ucp.pt

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Minimising the impact 
of economic activities

EMAS-EDIN: Cleaning up 
the University of Macedonia

This project successfully introduced the European Union’s EMAS environmental management 

certification at the University of Macedonia (UoM) in Thessaloniki. 

Prior to 2002 (when the project was 

The  project  also  achieved  some 

launched) public institutions in Greece 

reductions in the impacts the UoM’s 

had  been  slow  to  take  up  the  EU’s 

activities have on the environment, for 

Eco-Management and Audit Scheme 

example:

(EMAS)1. The University of Macedonia 

•  Heating: an estimated reduction in to-

(UoM) implemented this project with 

tal annual fuel consumption of 8%

the  Municipality  of  Thessaloniki  in 

•  Cooling: an estimated reduction in 

order to demonstrate the potential for 

power consumption of 5%

environmental co-operation between 

•  Lighting: a 25% reduction in power 

educational  institutions  and  local 

consumption.

authorities.

The managing partnership (compris-

the project (2004-2005), when all the 

ing the UoM research committee, the 

planned  measures  had  been  imple-

company  for  the  development  and 

mented, the following environmental 

In the final year of implementation of 

Hundreds of school children visit 
the Environmental Education Kiosk 
every year

management  of  UoM  property,  an 

benefits were recorded in comparison 

municipal park, in collaboration with 

environmental  consulting  engineer-

to the previous year:

the Municipality of Thessaloniki, for 

ing company and the Municipality of 

•  A 20% decrease in energy (thermal 

the provision of environmental edu-

Thessaloniki)  introduced  a  range  of 

and electric) consumption

cation to primary school children, by 

actions aimed at integrating environ-

•  Significant reductions in CO2, CO, 

the members of the Student Voluntary 

mental  principles  into  the  everyday 

NOx, HC

Environmental Support Groups. The 

operations of the university. 

•  Reduced  consumption  of  paper 

necessary educational material was 

– around 15% less than 2001-2003 

developed,  and  now  around  800  to 

The overall objective was to reduce the 

levels

1,000 children between the  ages of 

environmental impact of the universi-

•  A 20% reuse of printer cartridges 

six and nine years old now visit the 

ty’s operations. Other objectives were 

and toners during the first two years 

Kiosk every academic year.

to improve health and safety condi-

of implementation.

tions, raise environmental awareness, 

stimulate  closer  co-operation  with 

The project achieved its objectives. 

other educational institutions and dis-

It  was  innovative  because  it  was 

Project Number: 
LIFE02 ENV/GR/000363

seminate information on the lessons 

implemented in a sector whose par-

learned.

ticipation in EMAS has been very low 

–  educational  institutions.  Another 

The  project  involved  staff,  students 

major innovation was the partnership 

and  the  local  community.  It  helped 

that  was  established:  between  an 

raise  awareness  of  environmental 

educational  institution  (its  staff  and 

issues  and  introduced  more  envi-

students) and the municipality host-

Title: Development and implementa-
tion of eco-management and audit 

scheme (EMAS) in educational insti-

tutions

Beneficiary: University of Macedo-
nia - Research Committee  

ronmental  courses  to  the  university 

ing it. Most UoM employees, students 

Total Budget: 1,089,000 

curriculum. A computer system was 

and other interested parties live in the 

set up to help the implementation of 

Municipality of Thessaloniki, and so 

EMAS  within  the  UoM’s  operations, 

their increased environmental aware-

LIFE Contribution: 487,000 

Period: Jul 2001 to Jun 2004

and  a  cost-benefit  analysis  on  the 

ness and training will not only benefit 

Website: www.greenuniversity.gr/en

project’s impact was carried out. 

the UoM but also the local community. 

1 http://ec.europa.eu/environment/emas/
index_en.htm

Furthermore,  as  part  of  the  project, 

an  ‘Environmental  Education  Kiosk’ 

was  constructed  at  the  Nea  Elvetia 

Contact: Eftichios Sartzetakis, 
Associate Professor

Email: esartz@uom.gr

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Best LIFE-Environment Projects 2006-2007  I  p. 3

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Waste management

The  Commission’s  Thematic  Strategy  on  the  Prevention  and  Recycling  of 

Waste is one of the seven thematic strategies set by the Sixth Environmental 

Action  Programme  (6th  EAP).  The  approach  to  waste  management  is  to 

contribute to reducing the environmental impacts of using material resources 

by avoiding waste generation (prevention) and increasing the amount of recy-

cling and recovery of materials and energy from the waste we produce. This 

long-term policy is having significant results. Over the past ten years, the EU 

has doubled the amount of municipal waste recycled to more than 80 million 

tons  per  year,  and  several  EU  countries  have  managed  to  achieve  recycling 

rates for packaging waste of over 60%.   

6th EAP http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/strategy.htm

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Waste management

DOL-EL: 100 percent recycling 
of used oil lubricants

The EU uses 4.7 million tonnes of oil lubricants a year, but, as the Mineraloel-Raffinerie Dollbergen 

GmbH (MRD) stresses, ‘used’ does not have to mean ‘waste’. This German firm recycles used oil 

lubricants into high-grade base oils and solvents in a way that leaves no waste.

solvent  extraction  process  for  used 

The  average  base  oil  process  yield 

oils, but the development of new qual-

within the ‘Enhanced Selective-Refin-

ity criteria for state-of-the-art motor oil 

ing’ process is about 91%. The pro-

lubricants - accounting for 50% of the 

duced base oils have superior prop-

recycled oil market - were requiring the 

erties:  a  high  viscosity  index,  low 

greater use of non-conventional oils 

evaporation loss during use and high 

such as synthetic oils with increasing 

oxidation stability, providing excellent 

amounts  of  elaborate  polyalphaole-

lubrication at different temperatures 

fins  (PAO).  As  these  expensive  and 

and over time.

fragile components were destroyed in 

conventional recycling processes, the 

It achieved the elimination of PAHs 

beneficiary researched technologies to 

to  less  than  1  mg  per  kg  (=1  ppm) 

recover them from the waste-oils.

with  the  simultaneous  retention  of 

high-quality semi-synthetic and fully 

The old clay treating process produced 
4,900 tonnes of used clay annually. The 
new process is waste-free 

Similarly,  the  recovery  processes 

synthetic  base  oil  fractions  such 

have needed to ensure the improved 
elimination  of  toxic  polycyclic  aro-

PAOs and their associated positive 
properties. 

matic  hydrocarbons  (PAH),  amounts 

With nearly 50 years experience in the 

of  which  have  been  increasing  in 

Both national and international pat-

field, MRD recognised that the poten-

used oils. Existing processes were not 

ents have now been granted for the 

tial to develop waste oil recycling was 

able to both eliminate the PAHs and 

process, which promises high levels of 

considerable. It only takes 1.3 tonnes 

recover the valuable synthetic base oil 

flexibility in the face of evolving com-

of used oil - compared to ten tonnes 

fractions. MRD therefore developed a 

positions of used oils and increasing 

of crude oil - to produce one tonne of 

new process based on a liquid-liquid 

quality requirements for base oils. 

high-grade base oil for the lubricant 

extraction technology.

market. Furthermore, even the leftover 

fraction of the recycling process can be 

It developed the use of N-methyl pyrro-

recovered for use in industrial heating. 

lidone (NMP), a highly selective solvent 

Yet, at the time of the project, recycling 

to remove aromatics and heteroatomic 

was extremely limited in Europe. 

compounds. The solvent is non-toxic, 

However,  the  savings  of  nearly  nine 

less and can accordingly be endlessly 

tons of crude oil per ton of high-grade 

and completely recovered and reused 

soluble in water and biologically harm-

base oil plainly shows that from a life-

in the process.

cycle perspective, waste oil recycling 

is far superior to combustion. None-

The process achieved its waste-free 

Project Number: 
LIFE00 ENV/D/000318 

Title: Planning and construction 
of the demonstration unit 

‘MRD−Selektive−Refining’ for refin-

ing of waste oil

Beneficiary: Mineraloel−Raffinerie 
Dollbergen GmbH    

theless, there are also opposing mar-

objective  through  the  recovery  and 

Total Budget: 9,620,000

ket  forces:  for  example,  the  cement 

reintroduction  of  the  used  solvent 

industry would rather keep their large 

and the collection of extracts from the 

share of the waste oil market, to profit 

process to be used internally as fuel for 

from waste oil as a tax-free fuel, with 
disposal revenues on top of that.

steam generation or sold as a heavy 
fuel oil component. This is in contrast 

to the old clay treating process, which 

The company, located near Hannover, 

required the annual disposal of 4,900 

had already developed an innovative 

tonnes of used clay.

LIFE Contribution: 1,550,000

Period: Sept 2001 to May 2005

Website: www.avista-mineraloel.de

Contact: Holger Bretschneider  

Email: holger.bretschneider@
mineraloel−raffinerie.de

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Waste management

Best LIFE-Environment Projects 2006-2007  I  p. 33

Humification of Sludge: Converting 
sewage waste into valuable soil

Significant progress in Greece in the treatment of sewage had not been matched by similar 

advances in the disposal of the resulting sludge. This LIFE project demonstrated the use of the 

latest technologies to turn 100 percent of sewage sludge ‘waste’ into valuable and environmen-

tally friendly soil.

Sludge produced by sewage treatment 

The  mixture  was  layered  and  con-

of a lasting and final solution to the 

plants constitutes a significant propor-

stantly  aerated  and  mixed  with  a 

problem of waste treatment, requiring 

tion of solid waste in urban areas. Dur-

special  turning  machine  (a  win-

no after-care.

ing the 1990s, a considerable number 

drow turner). Mixing guaranteed the 

of wastewater treatment plants were 

homogeneity of the mixtures and the 

The transferability of the project seems 

constructed in Greece to handle the 

enrichment  with  oxygen  to  acceler-

to be high with the collection of disposal 

major environmental problem of sew-

ate thermal rotting, which is an aero-

fees for incoming sludge and sales of 

age treatment. Although most achieve 

bic, exothermic, microbiological and 

the soil providing revenue. Whilst the 

this prime objective, from the nearly 

biochemical  transformation  through 

financial viability of a humification plant 

one million tonnes of sewage sludge 

which  the  decontamination  of  the 

will be enhanced as market confidence 

annually  produced  in  Greece,  less 

mixture  is  ensured.  The  process 

in the final product develops, supple-

than two percent is reused.

destroyed all pathogenic bacteria and 

mentary  regulatory  acts  could  also 

Plants were not concerned with final 

of thermophilic fungi enriched the final 

sludge  management  and  disposal. 
Rather,  almost  all  sewage  sludge 

product.

Turning dangerous sewage sludge into 
valuable soil for parks and gardening

spores. At the same time, the growth 

support its proliferation.

ended  up  in  uncontrolled  disposal 

The  unit  treated  approximately  600 

areas,  burdening  the  environment, 

tonnes of dewatered sludge, together 

the  soil  and  groundwater.  It  greatly 

with  1,000  tonnes  of  inert  material 

increased  the  production  of  heavily 

and  400  tonnes  of  green  waste,  to 

polluted leachate and the generation 

produce 2,000 tonnes of earth mate-

of greenhouse gases, especially meth-

rial. Throughout the process, chemi-

ane,  by  introducing  biodegradable 

cal analysis of nearly 100 parameters 

organic products to sanitary landfills.

was used to determine the quality of 

the raw materials, the sludge and the 

The project therefore aimed to dem-

final product.

onstrate  an  environmentally  friendly 

sludge  management  process  by 

At the end of the humification proc-

adopting state-of-the-art technologies 

ess - which can last up to eight weeks 

to convert sludge into soil. This proc-

- earth material equivalent to natural 

ess is known as the ‘humification’ of 

soil, free of sludge contaminants, was 

Project Number: 
LIFE02 ENV/GR/000371

sludge and achieves 100% reuse of 

produced.  Final  laboratory  analysis 

sludge in an environmentally friendly 

confirmed  that  it  complied  with  all 

Title: Demonstration plant for sludge 
management of sewage treatment 

manner. Furthermore, the soil produced 

existing  EU  and  Greek  regulations 

plants with humification

is itself a highly valuable product. 

regarding  chemical  composition, 

including heavy metals. Although the 

The project applied humification at a 

soil  product  was  intended  only  for 

6,000  m²  site  in  Thessaloniki  trans-

landfill cover, it was found to be of suf-

forming  dewatered  sewage  sludge 

ficient quality for parks and recreation 

into soil. The sludge was prepared in a 
mixture with inert materials and green 

areas as well. 

wastes, such as wood and green cut-

The  process  fully  used  the  waste 

tings, depending on a simulation of the 

products from sewage treatment leav-

desired final product composition.

ing no residues. The process consists 

Beneficiary: Helector S.A.   

Total Budget: 1,800,000

LIFE Contribution: 743,000

Period: Feb 2003 to Jan 2005

Website: www.life02env371.gr 

Contact: Harris Eleftheriadis 

Email: h.eleftheriadis@helector.gr

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Integrated Product Policy

The Commission’s strategy on Integrated Product Policy (IPP) aims to reduce 

the environmental impact of goods and services at the most relevant stages 

of a product’s life-cycle. The approach covers all issues related to a product, 

from  its  design  and  development,  to  the  consumption  of  natural  resources 

as raw materials, its manufacture, assembly and transport, its marketing and 

sale,  its  subsequent  use  and,  finally,  its  recycling  or  disposal.  An  integrated 

approach for products implies involving many different actors and stakeholders 

along the product chain, aiming to improve the environmental performance of 

the product. As part of this process, IPP seeks to promote the co-ordination 

and exchange of information/knowledge between the relevant groups. 

IPP strategy http://ec.europa.eu/environment/ipp/

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Integrated Product Policy projects 

Best LIFE-Environment Projects 2006-2007  I  p. 35

Empereur: Beating the metal-plating 
competition with a more eco-friendly 
product

By extending the lifetime of the blue and black passivating baths, emulsion pertraction technology 

shows itself to reduce toxic metal sludge waste and produce a better product at a much lower 

cost. So impressive is this technology that the Dutch partner even won back a customer that had 

switched to a Chinese competitor.

logy, the estimated cost of chemical 
replacement is €168 million and the 
treatment  and  disposal  costs  are 
€76 million a year. 

This process extends the lifetime of 

the  blue  passivating  bath  from  six 

weeks (without emulsion pertraction 

technology) to at least 60 weeks, and 

the lifetime of the black passivating 

Extending the lifetime of the passi-

bath from one year to three years.

vating baths, however, would mini-

mise  the  negative  environmental 

Research  had  confirmed  the  tech-

effects and reduce these substantial 

economic losses. 

nology  in  principle,  but  the 

LIFE  Empereur  project 

was  its  first  full-scale 

Tramp ions FE3+ and Zn2+ are res-

demonstration. Speci-

ponsible for the degeneration of the 
passivating baths at the metal pla-

fically, Galvano Tech-
niek Veenendaal B.V., 

ting  industry.  These  ions  are  drag-

one of the the project 

ged in the passivating bath through 

partners  and  a  Dutch 

normal operation. Zinc and iron ions 

metal plating firm, achie-

are formed in the acid baths of the 

ved a lifespan of the baths 

S
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BEST OF THE 

galvanic  line,  simply  by  dissolving 

that was increased substantially: 

the steel object and or zinc coated 

the blue passivating bath at one of 

object a little bit. When the concen-

the participating metal platers had an 

tration of the ions reaches a critical 

extended lifespan of two years ins-

level, the passivating bath needs to 

tead of six weeks. At Loko Gramsber-

be replaced. 

gen BV, the project beneficiary, the 

black passivating bath were treated 

The  solution  to  this  problem,  emul-

with emulsion pertraction. The lifes-

sion  pertraction  (EP),  is  a  new  pro-

pan was extended from one to three 

cess evolved from a combination of 

years.  The  considerable  savings  in 

permeation through membranes and 

chemicals, energy and water resul-

Extending the lifetime of passivating 
baths significantly reduces costs for the 
European metal plating industry 

The  EU  metal  plating  industry  dis-

solvent  extraction.  In  the  emulsion 

ted in the installation paying for itself 

cards  about  420  million  litres  of 

pertraction process, the water phase 

in just over a year. 

contaminated passivating bath liquid 

is kept apart from the emulsion phase 

every year, resulting in the produc-

by a hydrophobic microporous mem-

There are additional financial bene-

tion of 40,000 tonnes of toxic metal 

brane.  At  the  contact  surface  (the 

fits to the technology. Furthermore, 

sludge waste. Passivation is the final 

pores in the membrane) between the 

the quality that can be obtained with 

treatment of the surface of iron and 

water  (passivating  bath)  and  orga-

blue Chromium3+ (Cr3+) passivating 

steel  objects.  It  protects  the  zinc 

nic phase (containing the extractant, 

in  combination  with  emulsion  per-

coating  which  has  been  deposited 
on the surface first. Across Europe, 

selective for the tramp ions), the tramp 
ions are bound by the extractant. The 

traction is better than traditional yel-
low Chromium6+ (Cr6+) passivating. 

the  metal  plating  industry  consists 

passivating bath liquid is redirected to 

Without  EP  technology,  concentra-

of some 10,000 companies, mainly 

the bath in the factory and the extrac-

tions of the tramp ions in the passi-

SMEs.  With  their  current  techno-

tant is regenerated. 

vating bath become very high at the 

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Integrated Product Policy projects 

end of the bath’s lifetime. This results 

A  number  of  directives  (including 

in off-spec products, which, in order 

end-of-life  vehicle,  the  restriction 

to not have dissatisfied customers, 

of the use of hazardous substances 

have to be reworked, which adds an 

in  electrical  and  electronic  equip-

additional expense. 

ment,  and  waste  electrical  and 

electronic  equipment  directives) 

During  the  long-term  testing  of  the 

limit or ban the use of Cr6+ passiv-

EP technology by the LIFE project, 

ating operations for the automotive 

however, the product quality remai-

industry and consumer electronics. 

ned unchanged, independent of the 

For  these  applications,  the  Cr6+-

lifetime of the passivating bath. When 

based,  yellow,  green  and  black 

the EP unit was started, the blue pas-

passivating operations must there-

sivating bath was already at the end 

fore be abandoned very soon.

of its normal lifetime, meaning that it 

produces darker-coloured products. 

For  blue  passivating,  without  the 

But within two hours of the operation 

use of EP technology, the cost esti-

of  the  EP  unit,  the  coated  objects 

became high-quality products.

The  thousands  of  small-business 

metal  platers  in  Europe  are  under 

fierce  competition  from  low-wage 

countries, most especially China, and 

mate for the normal operation over 
the  course  of  a  year  is    €47,920. 
With  the  application  of  the  EP 
technology  the  cost  is  reduced  to 
€2182. The commercial cost of the 
EP unit is about €42,000. The time 
it takes for the EP units to pay for 

EP technology could be a life-saver 
for thousands of SME metal platers in 
Europe, who are under fierce competi-
tion from low-wage countries

Corrosion  resistance  tests  showed 

that while operating the EP unit, the 

blue passivating coating had higher 

so a technical innovation that reduces 

themselves  is  less  than  one  year, 

resistance to corrosion than the yel-

their costs and provides consistent 

which  is  in  line  with  the  expected 

low  Cr6+-based  passivating  layer. 

product  quality  to  their  customers 

result. 

would  be  a  life-saver.  This  can  be 

Furthermore,  by  applying  EP  tech-

nology to these new and expensive 

accomplished with the introduction 

For  black  passivating,  without  the 

passivating  baths,  the  operational 

of the EP technology in Europe. The 

use  of  EP  technology,  the  cost 

cost can be drastically reduced. 

proof that consistent product quality 

provided  by  the  application  of  the 

EP technology leads to the return of 

customers  actually  happened  with 

this  project.  The  product  quality  of 

the  coated  objects  with  the  use  of 

the  EP  unit  was  so  impressive  that 

estimate  for  the  normal  operation 
in three year time is €145,223. With 
the application of the EP technology 
the  cost  are  reduced  to  €57,757. 
The commercial cost of the EP unit 
is  about  €30,000.  In  this  calcula-
tion, the recent rise in the price of 

Thus  with  superior,  cheaper  pro-

ducts  that  meet  European  regula-

tion, there is no longer any rationale 

for  using  the  Cr6+-based  yellow 

and  black  passivating  liquids.  This 

means that the suspected carcino-

one customer, who had switched to 

the  black  passivating  liquid  by  a 

gen,  Cr6+,  can  be  eliminated  from 

a Chinese competitor, switched back 

factor of two is not included.

the metal plating environment enti-

Galvano Techniek Veenedaal B.V. 

rely, making the project relevant for 

There  are  countries  where  the 

a range of other EU policies.

It takes less than a year for the EP units 
to pay for themselves 

introduction  of  the  very  expensive 

and newly developed yellow Cr3+-

based  chemicals  is  proceeding 

more rapidly than others. However, 

most  of  the  metal  plating  commu-

nity is very hesitant to switch over 

to  the  new  passivating  chemicals, 

because  their  customers  are  not 

willing  to  pay  for  the  raised  cost 

of  their  products.  The  application 

of emulsion pertraction technology 

for  these  newly  developed  chemi-

cals  should  be  investigated,  as 

many customers will require yellow 

passivating coatings.

Project Number: 
LIFE03 ENV/NL/000476 

Title: Empereur - Emulsion 
Pertraction for Europe

Beneficiary: Loko Gramsbergen BV
Total Budget: 1,070,000 
LIFE Contribution: 321,000

Period: Nov 2003 to Jun 2006

Website: www.galvaniseren.com/s/
onzevisie/life

Contact: Ron Keulen

Email: environ@wxs.nl

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Integrated Product Policy projects 

Best LIFE-Environment Projects 2006-2007  I  p. 37

Microfinishing: A new process for 
ceramic finishing that’s clean, 
dry and sludgeless

Ceramic finishing has historically been a process that uses substantial quantities of water, a 

great amount of electricity and produces thousands of tonnes of unrecyclable sludge every 

year. ‘Microfinishing’, however, is a new, dry finishing process, designed by the LIFE beneficiary 

Ceramica Fondovalle, an Italian ceramics firm, that cuts energy consumption in half, eliminates 

the need for water and reduces to zero the resultant pollution.

This  sludge  is  composed  of  porce-

lain  stoneware  dust,  abraded  resi-

dues from the action of the abrasive 

wheels, washing water and additives 

from the flocculation and clarification 

process.  It  is  stored  temporarily  in 

open-topped systems or passed on 

to third parties for disposal at 

the relevant sites. It is not 

The  ceramics  industry  is  rarely 

thought of as being a polluting sec-

tor, but in fact, when it comes to the 

finishing  of  ceramic  surfaces,  this 

aspect  of  the  business  causes  sig-

nificant environmental damage. The 

polishing of products such as ceramic 

tiles involves grinding wheels and the 

application of highly polluting enam-

els  and  soluble  compounds.  Worse 

still, the whole process uses a great 

amount of both energy and water, and 

also produces a substantial amount of 

Traditional abrasive substances are 
replaced with the very same material 
used to make ceramic tiles

even  recyclable,  due  to 

the physical, chemical, 

mineralogical and ther-

mal  incompatibility  of 

ceramic mud, which is itself a danger-

water and reduced to zero the result-

its  main  components. 

ous waste product.

ant pollution. 

The  heterogeneity  and 

the  physical  chemical 

In  order  to  overcome  these  prob-

lems, Ceramica Fondovalle, an Ital-

Unrecyclable sludge
Until the development of the new tech-

and mineralogical nature of 

the sludge make it unserviceable 

S
E
B

T 2006-2007
BEST OF THE 

ian ceramics firm founded fifty years 

nology, the grinding and polishing stages 

in any case, even after filter-pressing 

ago in the village of Torre Maina in the 

had been carried out with special wet-

or drying. 

region of Emilia-Romagna, wanted to 

running silicon carbide abrasive wheels, 

experiment  with  a  new  dry  process 

which produce sludge totalling 1.95kg 

–  ‘microfinishing’  –  for  finishing  tile 

per  square  metre  of  end  product,  of 

Dry finishing
The  new  idea  was  to  replace  the 

surfaces that eliminated the need for 

which 0.45 kg is the abrasive element.

traditional abrasive substances with 

Ceramica Fondovalle ceramics showroom

the very same material used to make 

the tiles in the first place. This would 

allow for a much greater recycling of 

the material used − either as abrasive 

or  in  finished  tiles  −  and  significant 

reductions  in  the  waste  produced. 

The technology the company had in 

mind would eliminate the use of both 

water and grinding wheels from the 

process, thus reducing the water and 

power  needs  and  the  subsequent 

impact on the environment. 

With  the  support  of  LIFE,  Ceramica 

Fondovalle  designed,  produced  and 

tested a pilot plant that uses this new 

dry finishing process for grés ceram-

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Integrated Product Policy projects 

the  company  can  treat  any  type  of 

polishing mud. Energy consumption 

flat, planar or indented surface, such 

has  been  halved  in  the  plant  and 

as those typical of marble, breccias 

the use of special pollutant enamels 

and split stones.

reduced by 10%.

The  waste  ensuing  from  the  micro-

The success of the fully optimised plant 

finishing  process  is  reusable  (in  the 

allowed the beneficiary to obtain more 

same  state)  in  the  porcelain  stone-

resistant surfaces in the finishing proc-

ware production process, as all its ele-

ess, thus increasing the quality of the 

ments are identical to the raw material 

final product. The greater precision has 

employed in the process.

also reduced the production of waste 

products. Better still, overall production 

The conveying of the abrasive mate-

costs have been significantly reduced 

rial  now  makes  use  of  a  system 

helping  the  competitiveness  of  the 

which is part mechanical, part grav-

products on the world market.

ity-powered and part pneumatic. In 

this system, the compressed air only 

Ultimately,  Ceramica  Fondovalle 

comes into use during the spraying 

intends to shift all its products onto 

stage  inside  the  nozzle,  where  the 

the  new  finishing  process  and  has 

abrasive material falls, by the effects 

already  installed  the  pilot  plant  in 

of  gravity,  while  all  the  other  abra-

another  factory  where  the  loading 

sive handling actions are performed 

process has been automated giving it 

by  the  power  of  gravity  or  through 

close to industrial performance levels 

mechanical actions, by means of a 

and greatly improved environmental 

bucket elevator. This has allowed the 

performance.

company  to:  a)  eradicate  the  abra-

The abrasive material conveyance 
system is part mechanical, part gravity-
powered and part pneumatic

ics. The process enables the company 

sive action on the conveying system 

to eliminate the grinding and polishing 

parts; b) substantially reduce the use 

stages from ceramic tile production, 

of  compressed  air  (and  therefore 

which,  across  the  industry  in  2001 

electric power) by 80% in relation to 

alone, produced over 110,000 tonnes 

the  prototype;  and  c)  maintain  the 

of sludge in Italy.

performance of the abrasive used.

These two stages are replaced by a 

method  wherein  the  surfaces  that 

Water use reduced to zero
All the finishing waste is now recov-

require  treatment  are  bombarded 

ered and re−entered into the process 

with  homogeneous  particles  similar 

either as abrasive material once more 

to the material treated. The particles, 

or − if its grain has become too thin 

with  selective,  varying  grain  sizes, 

− as raw material for the production 

are obtained through a raw porcelain 

of the tiles. The plant is on target to 

stoneware grinding process and then 

reach  industrial  performance  levels 

blasted  against  the  surfaces  with  a 

once  the  automation  of  the  loading 

pneumo-mechanical method. Via this 

process has been completed.

process, stress is applied to the sur-

face to be treated in order to mould 

The dry process has reduced the use 

it as required and create the desired 

of water and grinding wheels to zero. 

features, such as a matt or glossy fin-

This has consequently eliminated the 

ish or a translucent effect.

production  of  dangerous  polishing 

mud and solid waste from the abra-

This material, which is blasted against 

sive  materials  and  eradicated  the 

the tile’s surfaces, performs the same 

accumulation of exhausted grinding 

role as abrasive sand, taking on the 

wheels. For the beneficiary alone, this 

specific  functions  via  preset  pres-

has meant savings of 20,000 litres of 

sure, incidence angle and composi-

water per day, 20,000 grinding wheels 

tion modes. With this methodology, 

per year and 4,300 tons per year of 

Project Number: 
LIFE02 ENV/IT/000052 

Title: Microfinishing  

Beneficiary: Ceramica Fondovalle
Total Budget: 2,670,475
LIFE Contribution: 733,704  

Period: Oct 2002 to Dec 2005

Beneficiary’s website: 
www.fondovalle.it

Contact: Vito Antonio Remigio

Email: info@fondovalle.it

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Integrated Product Policy projects 

Best LIFE-Environment Projects 2006-2007  I  p. 39

S-House: Buildings of the future 

While waste from construction and demolition accounts for over a third of all waste generated in 

Europe, the Austrian ‘S-House’ combines sustainable building methods throughout the entirety of a 

building’s construction, using minimal amounts of energy and employing mostly renewable and recy-

clable materials. 

To  reduce  environmental  impacts, 

not only meets the highest passive 

the  life-cycle  approach  takes  into 

house  standards,  but  also  demon-

account all phases of a product’s life, 

strates  the  effective  employment 

from its design through to its re-use, 

of  building  materials  derived  from 

recycling or disposal. The S-House 

renewable  and  recyclable  natural 

project adopted this approach, seek-

resources.  Located  in  Böheim-

ing to combine all relevant aspects 

kirchen, 50 kilometres from Vienna, 

of sustainable building methods and 

local  materials  were  used  for  the 

thereby construct a building that not 

building wherever possible, thereby 

only  met  the  high  energy  standard 

reducing  transport  distances  and 

required  for  ‘Passive  House’  certi-

energy  use.  Furthermore,  numer-

fication1,  but  also  comprised  only 

ous  construction  solutions  were 

recycled or renewable raw materials, 

developed that enable materials to 

and was constructed in an energy-

be  easily  reused  at  the  end  of  the 

efficient manner.

building’s lifespan.

The S-House uses straw for its insulat-
ing properties

The building sector is characterised 

All  the  building’s  structural  com-

by  an  extremely  high  use  of  mate-

ponents  and  outer  panelling  are 

diverse  range  of  sustainable  con-

rial  and  energy.  Moreover,  waste 

made of wood, and the entire build-

struction techniques and materials, 

from  construction  and  demolition 

ing is ‘wrapped’ in straw due to its 

has  received  recognition  at  home 

accounts  for  around  34%  of  all 

excellent insulating properties. The 

and  abroad,  winning  the  Austrian 

waste generated in Europe, having 

construction  of  conventional  con-

‘Energy  Globe’  award  in  2005,  the 

a significantly adverse impact on the 

crete  walls  was  found  to  consume 

‘Global 100 Eco-Tech Award’ at the 

environment and necessitating sub-

ten  times  the  amount  of  natural 

EXPO 2005 in Japan, as well as the 

stantial disposal costs.

resources  and  substantially  more 

Austrian  State  Award  for  Architec-

energy than that of their wood and 

ture and Sustainability2.

The  Centre  for  Appropriate  Tech-

straw equivalents.

nology  (Gruppe  Angepasste  Tech-

nologie,  or  GrAT),  at  the  Vienna 

No  metal  or  synthetic  materials 

University  of  Technology,  planned 

were  used  in  the  entire  building. 

and constructed the S-House based 

For  example,  a  specially  designed 

on  results  obtained  from  research 

‘straw  screw’  was  developed  to 

conducted in the framework of the 

afford  maximum  strength  when 

‘Building of Tomorrow’ programme, 

applied to fasten wooden planks on 

administered by the Austrian Federal 

the  straw  bales  used  for  the  outer 

Ministry of Transport, Innovation and 

walls’ insulation. The screw, which 

Technology.

Wrapped in straw
With an energy consumption of only 6 

is  a  good  example  of  the  project’s 

approach,  is  made  of  Treeplast,  a 

biosynthetic material that combines 

the  advantages  of  renewable  raw 

kWh/m2, the resulting office building 

materials with those of modern syn-

1 To achieve certification by the accredi-
tation agency Passivhaus Dienstleistung 
GmbH (Darmstadt, Germany), a building 
must consume less than 15 kWh/m2 per 
annum for heating.

thetic  material  processing  such  as 

injection moulding.

The  project,  along  with  its  inte-

grated  approach  that  combines  a 

2 Österreichischer Staatspreis für Archi-
tektur und Nachhaltigkeit

Project Number: 
LIFE00 ENV/A/000243

Title: Innovative use of renewable 
resources demonstrated by means 
of an office and exhibition building

Beneficiary: GrAT (Gruppe 
Angepasste Technologie), 
TU Wien, Austria
Total Budget: 1,507,000 
LIFE Contribution: 752,000 

Period: Jun 2001 to May 2005

Website: www.s-house.at

Contact: Robert Wimmer 

Email: contact@grat.at 

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Integrated Product Policy projects 

Taneftreat: Boosting tannery waste-
water treatment with ‘better than 
best’ technology

A new, compact integrated plant for the treatment of tannery effluent significantly improved on 

the existing best available technology, reducing chemical oxygen demand, removing sulphur and 

nitrogen – and costing 35% less.

produce  large  quantities  of  polluted 

the anaerobic pre-treatment and the 

water. The Taneftreat LIFE project at 

sludge fermentation.

Hulshof, demonstrated a new, com-

pact, integrated plant for the treatment 

COD removal was better than expected 

of tannery effluent. The project co-ordi-

and indeed better than BAT - the project 

nators aimed to transform Hulshof into 

achieved a 95% removal rate, whereas 

an  operating  tannery  that  employed 

the  BAT  had  a  COD  removal  rate  of 

‘better than best available technology 

(BAT)’ by improving upon current BATs 

under 90%. Sulphur removal showed 
considerable improvement. Here, the 

in tannery wastewater treatment.

project achieved a 70% removal rate, 

compared  with  a  BAT  removal  rate 

Wastewater treatment is not normally 
a core activity for a tannery

Since wastewater treatment was not 

of  40%.  Chemical  use  was  better 

one of Hulshof’s core activities, they 

than expected. The project achieved 

looked  for  an  operating  partner  that 

an 80% reduction on the amount of 

Hulshof Royal Dutch Tanneries, which 

could  help  in  the  design  and  opera-

chemicals used with the BAT. 

dresses raw bovine hides into finished 

tion of a new treatment facility. For this, 

leather, is the only entirely Dutch tan-

Waterstromen B.V., the LIFE benefici-

However,  energy  use  (electrical  and 

nery that comprises all the main leather 

ary, was approached. Waterstromen is 

thermal) was comparable to the BAT. 

tanning processes, and in recent years, 

an affiliate of Waterschap Rijn en IJssel, 

Nonetheless, more sulphur is removed 

has put much effort into reducing its 

the regional water quality manager, and 

with the same amount of energy, and net 

impact on the environment.

operates three wastewater treatment 

external energy input is 30% less than 

plants on behalf of industrial compa-

BAT because biogas from the installa-

A  significant  number  of  operations 

nies. In the context of the Taneftreat 

tion is used to produce its energy. Bet-

within a tannery are ‘wet’ operations, 

project, Waterstromen is the operator 

ter still, the cost-benefit ratio was signifi-

those that consume large amounts of 

of the plant and charges Hulshof for the 

cantly improved: the cost of installation, 

water, chemicals and energy, and also 

amount of water processed. 

although higher than foreseen, was 35% 

Project Number: 
LIFE02 ENV/NL/000114 

Title: Taneftreat - Demonstration of 
effective and efficient TANnery EFflu-
ent TREATment using an innnovative 
integrated and compact biological 
and physical treatment plant  

Beneficiary: Waterstromen B.V.
Total Budget: 5,097,000 
LIFE Contribution: 725,000  

Period: Dec 2001 to Jul 2006

Website: www.waterstromen.nl

Contact: Eef Leeuw

Email: e.leeuw@waterstromen.nl

lower than the BAT. 

The new plant includes a combination 

of  ‘process-integrated’  and  ‘end-of-

The process has good replication pos-

pipe’ measures. ‘Process-integrated’ 

sibilities  for  the  tannery  sector  and 

measures consist of the separation of 

for other industries with comparable 

different waste streams generated in 

wastewater characteristics such as the 

the tannery. The ‘end-of-pipe’ process 

food industry, and the beneficiary is 

consists of an anaerobic pre-treatment 

initiating talks with the European IPPC 

(chemical  oxygen  demand  -  COD  - 

Bureau and the tannery working group 

breakdown  and  sulphate  reduction), 

in order to ensure that it will qualify as 

followed by a sulphur bioreactor (sul-

a BAT itself once the original BREF1 

phide and sulphate is transferred into 

document for the tannery industry is 

elementary sulphur) and two reactors 

reviewed.

for  nitrogen  removal  (partial  nitrifi-

cation  and  Anammox  technology). 

Sludge is fermented in order to reduce 

its volume. Biogas is produced in both 

1  Published by the Commission, the BAT 
reference documents (BREFs) determine 
BATs at the EU level for a particular sector.

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