Boosting Employability through Circularity of Bio-waste in Rural areas

ended

Waste mismanagement is a significant issue hindering the adoption of a circular economy model in the Western Balkan countries. The agriculture sector represents a large proportion of the bio-waste stream in the rural communities, facing a growing challenge related to insufficient and inadequate infrastructure. Landfilling remains the most applied method of waste disposal, although according to the waste management hierarchy this represents the least desired option. When bio-waste is dumped in landfills, it undergoes anaerobic decomposition (due to the lack of oxygen) and produces methane. Despite efforts to get rid of illegal dumpsites, they continue to thrive and represent a serious public health risk, particularly due to hazardous waste and groundwater contamination. The project aims to engage and empower young people in agro-entrepreneurship actions turning bio-waste into valuable bio-products through innovative circular business models for job creation and environmental protection of rural areas. The project addresses two major issues related to rural areas: unemployment of young people and high amounts of segregated and mixed bio-waste that are not properly managed. In line with the general objectives, these challenges will be addressed through developing capacities of youth workers in recovering valuable nutrients from bio-waste (food waste, manure, sewage sludge, municipal waste etc.) and adapting them for reuse in agriculture, as a fundamental part of shifting WB agriculture away from its current linear model and an integral part of the New Circular Economy Action plan. Apart from the bio-waste management aspects, a Virtual Incubator programme will be dedicated to the challenge of how to design new circular business and marketing concepts for cross-sectorial valorization of agricultural by-products.