Circular MuSe - Promoting circular economy approaches that increase the resource efficiency of municipal services
Municipalities and urban utility companies provide various services to residents and visitors. Offering these services involves a wide range of fundamental tasks and background operations (e.g., winter road snow removal, repair work on streets and other public infrastructure, maintenance of public spaces, etc.). Many of these activities by municipalities and utilities still rely on the linear economy paradigm, which in turn involves excessive use of - often even raw materials (e.g., sand or gravel for winter road snow removal), which become waste and are disposed of after a single use. The result is relatively high consumption of raw materials and the generation of waste during the provision of municipal services.
Applying circular economy principles to these fundamental tasks and background operations could significantly reduce the environmental impact of providing municipal services in the Southern Baltic area. There are also potential leverage points to reduce raw material consumption and waste production, which lie even within the direct sphere of influence of municipalities and municipal utility companies, for example:
- Reusing raw materials within individual municipal services (e.g., reusing gravel for winter road snow removal multiple times).
- Reusing raw materials across different municipal services, i.e., using materials currently disposed of as "waste" or by-products of one municipal service for other purposes within the provision of municipal services (e.g., separating and using sand collected by street sweepers for urban earthworks or sediment from stormwater retention for creating and/or fertilizing urban greenery).
The Circular MuSe project takes a comprehensive and systematic approach to promoting circular economy principles in municipal services across the South Baltic area.
The overall aim of the project is to support municipal enterprises and municipalities in smaller towns and rural areas in adopting a circular approach that promotes the reuse of raw materials in their supply chains, thereby enabling the efficient use of resources in municipal services.
The overarching goal is to increase resource efficiency by minimizing raw material consumption and reducing waste through the reuse of materials in municipal service supply chains.
The project focuses on smaller towns and rural areas, recognizing their unique challenges and opportunities in transitioning to a circular economy.
The project approach is based on three main objectives:
- Establishing the "South Baltic Knowledge Hub on Circular Municipal Services" to facilitate cross-border capacity building and knowledge transfer. This will be ensured by conducting in-depth analyses to identify the needs and potentials for applying circular economy solutions in various thematic areas of municipal services; inventorying existing technical and organizational solutions applicable to circular municipal services; assessing replication potential and creating an open online catalog with case studies and information on "knowledge agents".
- Testing and evaluating new circular approaches to enrich the portfolio of available solutions. This will be ensured by conducting feasibility studies based on existing best practices and the latest international knowledge; implementing international workshops and peer review sessions to accompany pilots in the involved municipalities; co-designing, testing, and evaluating new circular solutions by urban utility companies, documenting results, and providing guidelines and plans for followers.
- Implementing support measures based on co-developed curricula for delivering circular municipal services. This will be achieved by identifying target groups and their needs, with a special focus on municipal utility companies, smaller towns, and rural municipalities; tailoring educational and mentoring programs to the specific needs of the target groups; organizing and implementing educational programs for urban utility companies and decision-makers, recruiting companies through municipal umbrella organizations, and facilitating thematic exchange workshops and study visits in Circular MuSe pilot cities.
Project activities are grouped into three content-related work packages. The first is dedicated to the creation of the "South Baltic Knowledge Hub on Circular Municipal Services". It includes the development of an open catalog of case studies and available solutions for circular municipal services, the development of a set of modular curricula and mentoring programs for urban utility companies and urban decision-makers, and the establishment of an international network of circular economy experts from R&D institutions. The second work package focuses on the practical implementation and evaluation of innovative circular approaches within municipal services, which involve planning, implementing, and evaluating pilot solutions in technical-organizational practices for providing circular municipal services. The last work package involves educational and mentoring programs for urban utility companies along with international workshops connecting practitioners and researchers.
The target groups of the project are urban utility companies in smaller towns and rural areas, smaller towns and rural municipalities, and associations of municipalities and/or sectoral utility company associations.
BALTWRECK - Preventing massive marine waters chemical pollution from the leaking wrecks and munition
The project is concerned with combating various hazardous substances in the aquatic environment in order to increase safety and water quality. There are about 20,000 known military and civilian shipwrecks at the bottom of the Baltic Sea, of which about 10 per cent are a source of contamination from fuels or remnants of sunken munitions. More than 80 years after the Second World War, hazardous fuel is leaking from some of the rusted wrecks (e.g. carcinogenic pyrolytic oil from the ‘Stuttgart’ has already contaminated 40 ha of the Bay of Gdansk). Other wrecks are close to decomposition and need to be carefully monitored to assess the risk and the real threat to marine life and the impediment to a variety of economic activities on the seabed. Decisions on monitoring, clean-up or exclusion of anthropogenic activities in the vicinity of wrecks are extremely slow, as costly and intensive studies are needed in each case.
The BaltWreck initiative believes that the time has come to bring together all relevant marine research institutions, maritime administrations and decision-makers in the region to solve this major transboundary challenge in a methodological, efficient and internationally compliant manner.
The aim of the BaltWreck project is to contribute to the reduction of pollution of the Baltic Sea by ammunition, hazardous fuel and other dangerous shipwreck residues through the joint development, demonstration and implementation of national wreck management programmes.
CONE - Cities of nature: nature-based-solutions in urban living labs
The project aims to establish a multidimensional “Living Lab” to apply nature-based solutions in local contexts as a cross-sectoral, more digital, and democratic approach to mitigating and adapting to climate change. The project contributes to increasing resilience to climate change and natural disasters by implementing tailored measures with a participatory approach and supporting integrated climate adaptation policies at the local and regional levels.
Due to significant environmental, socio-economic, and human health impacts, Central European regions must increase resilience to climate change. According to the conceptual framework of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) on resilience, it is defined as the ability to face shocks and lasting structural changes in such a way that social welfare is maintained without compromising the heritage of future generations (JRC). To achieve this and ensure further urban development and adaptation of the local urban environment, CONE aims to address identified challenges and needs through local innovation living labs that engage actors from the quadruple helix: public sector, private sector, civil society, and academia.
The Urban Living Lab method includes three implementation phases:
- Joint research and context analysis to confirm identified challenges and recognize needs and barriers in the local context.
- Experimental phase, which includes ideation of innovative solutions, their incubation, and strategy development.
- Experiments and feedback: testing the implemented solution, collecting feedback, suggestions for improvements, validation, and replication.
There is a strong need to incorporate climate change issues into strategic risk-based planning and resilience-enhancing measures. Therefore, the innovation lies in a more democratic and data-driven approach that leads to community empowerment and raising awareness regarding climate change and potential mitigation and adaptation solutions. Within this framework, even if not technologically advanced, nature-based solutions can be a valuable and sustainable ally in combination with a participatory approach.
The CONE project will explore how the Urban Living Lab approach can be scalable and adaptable in more rural, small, and medium-sized settlements in Europe. The partnership will select co-creation / participatory design, implementation, and monitoring methods for NBS that are feasible and affordable in such Central European municipalities. The main focus will be on exploring and testing specific “living lab” methods that help municipalities design and implement - based on broader citizen engagement and better data collection, management, and use.
Link to the external project website
WaterMan is promoting water reuse in the Baltic Sea Region. In doing so, it adds a new element to water management that can make water supply more climate-resilient. The key actors in water reuse are local authorities and water utilities, for most of whom the topic is still new. WaterMan will provide them with the knowledge and tools to develop strategic approaches and implement concrete measures that will put water reuse into practice.
The capacity-building process involves an international peer learning process. Municipalities and water utilities from 6 countries, supported by research and development institutions/water experts, will co-create: 1.Sample water reuse strategies for selected model regions that combine measures for reuse of treated water, recirculation of retained water, and stakeholder and consumer acceptance of water reuse. 2.A set of complementary pilot activities for water reuse that represent typical use cases and that adapt, test and validate specific solutions for use in BSR. The results are processed into a "Toolkit for Water Reuse in the BSR." It gives other local authorities and water companies specific guidance on how to support water reuse and is proactively and widely disseminated.
Geographically, WaterMan focuses on the southern parts of the BSR (southeastern SE, DK, DE, PL, LT, LV, EE). This focus on homogeneous geology and landscape and landscape will make partnership learning and knowledge transfer more effective.
The core of the WaterMan partnership is made up of "practical" partners from the local level (local authorities, water utilities), who will become "leaders" in promoting water reuse in the Baltic Sea Region. In the project, they work with experts in the field, who provide them with the necessary knowledge that supports them in disseminating the project results to other interested local authorities and water supply companies in the Baltic Sea Region.
PROJECT BRIEF
- Project area: Water smart society
- Project scope: European or transnational (mainly Baltic Sea countries)
- Role of STG ERB: partner with own budget
- Level of funding: 80%
- Project budget: 4,377,046.00 EUR
- STG ERB budget: 191,806.80 EUR
- Project consortium: Project implemented jointly with 16 full partners and 27 associated partners from PL,DK,SE, EE, DE, LT, LV, FI
"GREEN UP 2022-2024 - YOUTH FOR GREEN CHANGE OF SCHOOLS AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES"
The "Green Up" project involves 3 social partners (2 PL and 1 NO), 1 business environment institution (ETP), 3 local government units and 9 educational institutions in activities pro-environmental activities through:
- Activation of regional civic and social involvement based on organisations of the 3rd sector and related entities working for the benefit of the younger generation in the region of Warmia and Mazury and Pomerania;
- Internationalization of activities and entrepreneurial attitudes of social organizations,
civic and self-governmental organizations and increase their competence to work with young people in the field of green and blue growth (pro-climate actions) and to counteract their negative effects; - Developing a long-term ecological strategy, pro-environmental activities of the young generation in peripheral regions;
- Creation of a regional platform for cooperation and multi-stakeholder dialogue (NGOs, local government units, schools, youth) for the benefit of local communities and environmental protection;
- School as a living laboratory of change - inclusion of local communities in the life of the school, in environmental education and in environmental activities.
- Creating new solutions to existing problems and challenges;
"Green UP" is also to increase civic engagement and the practical influence of young people on local decisions and changes in schools (9) in 3 municipalities (at school and municipality)
PROJECT IN A NUTSHELL
Project area: building democratic culture and civic engagement at the local level - Environmental education
Project scope: local and transnational (investment action in Poland, know how from Norway)
Role of STG ERB: partner with own budget
Funding level 100%
Project budget: 114,969.00 EUR
STG ERB budget: 24,490.00 EUR
Project consortium: 5 partners 3 sector organizations from 3 from Poland and 1 from Norway
The CONTRA project compiles the knowledge required for sustainable management of beach wrack in the Baltic Sea Region and carries out case studies for beach wrack treatment. Beach wrack is organic material washed ashore, e.g. torn off seagrass or brown algae. It can cover Baltic Sea beaches for weeks after storms, rotting into a smelly soup and leaking nutrients back into the water. Managing beach wrack is an issue for local authorities and the tourism industry, in particular of the western and southern Baltic Sea.
Wrack management for clean beaches
The CONTRA project aims to change how coastal municipalities perceive and deal with beach wrack and to help develop the knowledge required for its sustainable treatment as part of coastal water management. The project compiles a tool-kit of options for removing and using beach wrack in a useful manner. The tool-kit is meant to help municipalities along the Baltic Sea coast to balance tourists’ demands for clean beaches with environmental protection.
Balancing opposing interests and identifying economic opportunities
Current practices to collect beach wrack create a financial burden for local communities. The methods used to collect and dispose of beach wrack, are also often in direct conflict with measures to safeguard the environment. To address this conflict and to balance opposing interests, CONTRA conducts a fair and comprehensive evaluation of all environmental, social and economic aspects of beach wrack management at six case study sites. This evaluation includes ecological impacts of beach wrack collection, industrial cycles of beach wrack processing and value chains of beach wrack based products or services. Potential products and services include fertilizer, soil improvers, biochar, biocover, coastal protection, biogas production and water quality improvement
A beach wrack cooperation network
The project establishes an international network for knowledge exchange, capacity building, awareness-raising and promotion of low-treatment or no-treatment options for beach wrack. The consortium comprises public authorities, businesses, academia and NGOs coming from six countries (Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Poland, Sweden, Russia). Thematically the consortium covers marine systems, coastal tourism, sustainable development as well as administrative structures of the Baltic Sea region.
Project Website
PROJECT BRIEF:
Project Area: Blue Growth, Nature Conservation; activities for the quality of Baltic waters, management of coastal areas
Project scope: European or transnational (mainly Baltic Sea countries)
The role of STG ERB: partner with own budget
Co-financing rate: 85%
Project budget: EUR 2,565,180.87
STG ERB budget: EUR 115,353.75
Project consortium: Project implemented jointly with 14 full partners and 22 associated partners with PL, DK, SE, EST, DE
The project is implemented under the "Environment, Energy, Climate Change" Program co-financed by the EEA Financial Mechanism 2014-2021.
The project provides for investment activities and soft activities carried out in parallel over a 26th-month period, not only in the area of Sztum City and Commune but also using the experience and expertise of partners from Norway, thanks to the support of International Development Norway. "Sztum Circular economy" uses the possibilities of transferring knowledge and good practices regarding environmental protection, entrepreneurship and the use of circular economy thanks to cooperation with the Gdańsk University of Technology - Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering and leads to the internationalization of activities involving municipalities of two voivodeships and foreign partners from 5 regions of the Baltic Sea basin through information and network activities carried out through the Association of Polish Communes Euroregion Bałtyk.
The project consists of 4 components developed by partners from Poland and Norway, diversified in terms of scope and content, which contribute to creating lasting conditions for activity in the field of circular economy in the City and Commune of Sztum, participation and cooperation of the general public with local entities economy and environmental protection in the entire Baltic Sea region.
Through, among others training, an educational campaign, exchange of experiences for effective operation, increases the capacity of the human resources and resource potential in the field of circular economy (GOZ), while providing them with appropriate work tools, rationalization of management methods and techniques, increasing the efficiency of waste management and recycling, and increasing transparency and availability of the local offer to the general public. The use of innovative ways of engaging and educating residents (participation in the management of a repair point, SferaLab, hackathon) to manage waste segregation in a commune will contribute to the creation of an easily transferred model of stimulating social activity and increasing the levels of knowledge, ensuring the achievement of the main goal of the project, which is to strengthen the implementation of the circular economy closed.
Activities to make the functioning of the Selective Waste Collection Point facility for Sztum (including the construction of a selective waste collection point in Sztumskie Pole and a repair, storage and exhibition hall in Sztum) in a changing environment lead to an increase not only in the ability to adapt to social needs, but also to establish permanent cooperation with local entities in the field of development of information and education services provided in the city of Sztum. It is also better cooperation between the public, scientific, private, business and social sectors as well as the internationalization of the issues and promotion of good practices implemented under the project.
In terms of infrastructure, by creating a selective municipal waste collection point, the so-called SWCP (PSZOK in PL) and the repair - warehouse - exhibition hall aims to create permanent conditions for activities in the field of circular economy, and at the same time to protect the environment and health of the inhabitants of the City and Commune of Sztum.
Moreover, the project will promote regional and international cooperation, in which Polish and foreign partners will play an important role. The tasks carried out under the project will take place in Poland and abroad (Norway and BSR countries)
PROJECT BRIEF:
Project area: Circular economy, green and blue growth, counteracting climate change
Duration: 26 months
Project scope: local and transnational (investment activity in Poland, know-how from Norway). With a local or regional focus but international
The role of STG ERB: partner with own budget
Co-financing rate 85%
Project budget: 1 169 798,16 EUR
STG ERB budget: 67 819,77 EUR
Project consortium: 4 partners, including 3 from PL and 1 from NOR