AshCycle – Integration of underutilized ashes into material cycles by industry-urban symbiosis

The incineration of biomass, municipal solid waste and sewage sludge produces significant quantities of ashes in the EU: approximately 25 million tons annually. These residues currently have no use or they are utilized only in low-value applications. Significant problems with the use of incineration residues in construction, water treatment, and other industries are insufficient public awareness of the safety and environmental acceptability of the final products, the lack of uniform regulations, and the readiness of the market to accept incineration residues as supplementary material. The project AshCycle will demonstrate and implement industry-urban symbioses revolving around the underutilized ashes to reach a circular and climate-neutral economy in Europe. Pilots and replication demonstrations will be carried out in Denmark, Finland, Belgium, The Netherlands, Croatia, Slovenia, Switzerland, and South Africa. The symbioses will include all major actors from the value chains, namely ash providers, ash beneficiation handlers, concrete and adsorbent product providers, as well as the engagement of the general public. AshCycle answers unmet socio-economic demands, facilitates emerging ash-based circular products for market entry and unlocks benefits for society by accepting new circular concepts.