ZEFFIROS

Zero‐waste energy‐efficient agricultural communities in the

Greece - Republic of North Macedonia cross‐border area

DEVELOPING CIRCULAR ECONOMIES BASED ON BIOWASTE


FLAGSHIP PILOTS

ZEFFIROS project aims to implement TWO unique BIOGAS ENERGY PRODUCTION PILOT UNITS in the cross-border area, located in Serres (40 KWel) and Dojran (10KWel).

The 2 pilot biogas units are designed and operated through inter-municipal cooperation demonstrating effective solutions to existing problems in the cross-border area.

DEMONSTRATING SOLUTIONS TO LOCAL PROBLEMS

  • Illegal disposal of waste from farming and animal husbandry and non-utilisation of by-products

  • Misuse of chemical soil-fertilisers with implications on food and water safety

  • High cost of biowaste disposal that jeopardises business viability (e.g. municipal slaughterhouse)

  • Negative impacts on financial and environmental sustainability from dependence on fossil-fuels



BRINGING ADDED VALUE TO THE CROSS BOARDER AREA

Operational models for biogas units

Develop a complete business value chain and an operational model for each pilot unit to continue operation after the project ends

Training for farmers & animal breeders

Train farmers, animal breeders and other food-processing professionals to reap the benefits of the circular economy

Compost certification as soil conditioner

Deliver guidelines towards compost certification to promote its use as a fertilizer or soil conditioner for farming

Neighbourhood composting pilots

Raise citizens' awareness by running neighbourhood-bin compost pilots for compost production in (sub)urban areas


The Interreg IPA CBC Programme ”Greece – Republic of North Macedonia 2014-2020” is a cross-border cooperation Programme co-financed by the European Union under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA II). The strategy statement of the Programme is “to enhance territorial cohesion by improving living standards and employment opportunities holding respect to the environment and by using the natural resources for upgrading of the tourism product”. The total budget of the Programme for the period 2014-2020 is 45.470.066,00 €.

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This webpage has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The contents of the webpage are the sole responsibility of the ZEFFIROS project team and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union, the participating countries and the Managing Authority.