Circular Economy and Waste Management

Environmental consulting services for (1)  the implementation of circular initiatives and potential steps of Elysée to reach a higher degree of circularity and (2) Elysée’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions according to ISO14064  and GHG reporting guidelines.

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Provision of Services for the Development of Circular Economy in Cyprus. This includes assessment of the country’s level of circularity compared to other countries and mapping of the current policy landscape and level of readiness of the Cypriot economy to shift towards Circular economy. The study also included selection of key focus industry sectors based on their role in national economy and their circularity potential in order to identify and analyse through participatory processes their drivers, barriers, opportunities and risks to transition to more circular economic models. This process has led to the development of sector specific policy measures towards circular economy including business support schemes, regulatory and fiscal interventions. The sector specific measures along with economy-wide policy recommendations, where then compiled into a coherent National Circular Economy Action Plan for Cyprus, to be applied across the Cypriot Economy, setting the country’s road map towards circularity.

Find out more about our Circular Economy Consulting Services.

  ISOTECH undertook the design of the methodology, the development of a technical decision support tool for the identification and provision of compensatory measures and the pilot testing of the proposed method to 3 waste management facilities in Cyprus.

ISOTECH and Proplan Ltd have been tasked by the Ministry of Agricultural, Rural Development and Environment to investigate the facility’s’ waste treatment process, identify the causes of increased humidity content of the produced RDF and suggest technical solutions for its improvement.

ISOTECH in close collaboration with the Department of Environment has undertaken the development of the National Action Plan under which Local Authorities will implement the separate collection of Municipal Biodegradable Wastes and treatment. The Action Plan includes technical solutions and specifications on the collection process, to reach the most cost effective, efficient and applicable collection scheme.

. ISOTECH was contracted to design a Deposit Refund System for Cyprus to address the challenge of low packaging recovery rates in the Republic of Cyprus and to create a favorable landscape for waste management for the harmonization with the latest European Directives on Waste and Packaging Waste. As part of this work ISOTECH designed the system and developed the relevant Business Plan and Feasibility Study.

By a Ministerial approval, the Community Council (CC) of Lympia (the Community nearest to the new Waste Management Plant), nominated Isotech as their Technical Consultant, to supervise all technical and managerial activities for the design, contraction and operation of the first  Integrated Waste Management Centre of Cyprus, at Koshi. All “state of the art” methodologies, techniques and technologies were examined, selected and implemented for the optimum separation, temporary storage, collection, transfer, treatment and final disposal of all steams of municipal solid wastes.

ISOTECH LTD undertook this project which is funded by EU structural funds for Cyprus, through the Ministry of Interior and Lympia Community Council.

Research Project funded by the Research Promotion Foundation of Cyprus, Scheme ΠΕΝΕΚ (PENEK), project number ΕΝΙΣΧ/0504/17). Total Budget: 130 000 Euro.
Partners: Isotech Ltd (host organization), Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London (Partner 1), International Waste Industries (Partner 2), Vassiliko Cement Works (Partner 3).
The main objective of the research is to quantify the main factors controlling bio-drying and the quality of SRF using a semi-industrial rotary drum bio-reactor. The project also aims to optimise the bio-drying process and the quality of the end product and also assess the effect of using SRF in cement production on the quality of cement. The research is carried out using the bio-reactor developed and owned by ISOTECH ltd

Research program funded by the Cyprus Research Promotion Foundation. (ENISX/0504/17).
Partners in the program: Isotech Ltd (host organization/coordinator) and  Imperial College of London.

Research program funded by the Cyprus Research Promotion Foundation. (Pr. No: AIEFO/1104/16)
Partners in the program: Isotech Ltd (host organization/coordinator). National Technical University of Athens, Imperial College of London.

Program funded by European Union through UNDP –PFF. Program combines public awareness and public implementation in the recycling of organic waste in their houses. Program was also aiming in the adoption of scientific data in the unique climate conditions of an island.

The aim of this research project was the identification of the best conditions for the production of a marketable soil conditioner, by composting municipal trimmings with chicken and goat-sheep manure, as well as with sludge from a wastewater treatment plant. Special focus was given to the reduction of pathogens and the activity of weed seeds, throughout the composting-maturation process and the final product.

The project was co-financed by Research Promotion Foundation (Pr. No: AIEFO/1104/16). The Research Team, included scientists and representatives from the organizations: Isotech Ltd (host organisation), Research and Consultancy, National Technical University of Athens-Greece, Imperial College of London-UK, Proplan Ltd, Industrial Consultants, Ecozoe Ltd, Bio-cultures and Ergates Community, Nicosia, Cyprus.

The research was mainly executed at the premises of Proplan Ltd, where windrows of different ratio between the four organic substrates (trimmings, goat, chicken manure, sludge), were created. Based on the activity of the microorganisms, as monitored by the temperature of the pile and the concentration of oxygen, the piles were turned regularly to avoid reduction of humidity less than 35% and oxygen concentration less than 10%.

The research was based on a factorial experimental design, out of which the scientific team proceeded with the development and assessment of 60 experiments with piles and 18 experiments with the bioreactor (in vessel composting).

From the seasonal experiments, the following results were conducted, as far as it concerns the best performing composting piles:

1. Trimmings – Goat and Sheep manure
a. Spring: Best analogy 30%  manure and 70% trimmings, with 50% moisture
b. Summer: Best analogy 30%  manure and 70% trimmings, with 40-50% moisture
c. Autumn: Best analogy 35%  manure and 65% trimmings, with 40-50% moisture
d. Winter: Best analogy 40%  manure and 60% trimmings, with 40% moisture

2. Trimmings – Chicken manure
a. Spring: Best analogy 20%  manure and 80% trimmings, with 40% moisture
b. Summer: Best analogy 15%  manure and 85% trimmings, with 50% moisture
c. Autumn: Best analogy 25%  manure and 75% trimmings, with 40-50% moisture
d. Winter: Best analogy 30%  manure and 70% trimmings, with 40% moisture

3. Trimmings – Sludge-Municipal Wastewater Plant
a.   Spring: Best analogy 15%  sludge and 85% trimmings, with 40-50% moisture
b. Summer: Best analogy 15%  sludge and 85% trimmings, with 50% moisture
c. Autumn: Best analogy 20%  sludge and 80% trimmings, with 40-50% moisture
d. Winter: Best analogy 25%  sludge and 75% trimmings, with 40% moisture

The above results with minor differences were produced by both the windrow composting process and the in vessel composting process. The in vessel composting was less vulnerable to fluctuations in temperature and moisture, and  easier to control, while the composting period for most of the successful experiments, was approximately 20 days, while the windrow active composting phase lasted for more than 40 days.

The experimental series dedicated for the identification of the minimum quantity of a windrow composting pile, revealed that for the climatic conditions of Cyprus, 500 kg of trimmings during winter time (mean daily T= 10oC) and  300 kg of trimmings during summer time (mean daily T= 30oC). This quantity, with the addition of one of the three organic substrates in the percentage prescribed, presents the minimum amount of organic substrate, necessary to support and maintain the thermodynamic and biological parameters of the composting process, in order to produce a stable and of acceptable quality final product-compost. Smaller piles will not support elevation of temperatures more than 40 oC, especially during winter time.

The germination of weed seeds in organic substrates, especially in goat and sheep manure, minimizes its value and poses extra cost in agriculture. Several experimental series revealed that the piles with the analogies in trimmings and manure, as presented above, could reduce the germination of the four most usual weed seeds of Cyprus, from 90 to 100%. The same piles showed a reduction of pathogens (E.coli) during the process, up to 100%.

The results of  the application of the final product from the above mentioned successful piles to several agricultural plants, showed a raise in productivity of vegetables, up to 100%, compared to the productivity of the soil without soil amendments.

Funded under LIFE- Third Countries. The project concerns the management of ELV’s, WEEE and Construction and Demolition wastes in Cyprus. Partners: National Technical University of Athens (Department of Chemical Engineering) and Environment Service of Cyprus. ISOTECH ltd participates as local representative/ consultant of the National Technical University of Athens, in Cyprus.

ISOTECH Ltd was the local partner of the USA company GeoDigital Mapping Inc. ISOTECH was responsible for setting up and programming the dedicated Hydrological Data Bank and the GIS for the hydrological data of the Meteorology Service, the Geological Survey Department and Water Development Department of Cyprus as well as for organising the hydro-data kept by Turkish Cypriot authorities. Project funded by USAID

Research Project funded by the Research Promotion Foundation of Cyprus, 4th Research Scheme, project number 13/2001). Total Budget: 90000 Euro.

Partners: National Technical University of Athens (Department of Chemical Engineerign) and ISOTECH ltd Environmental Consultants-Researchers. Several techniques and materials for the stabilization/ solidification of heavily polluted industrial sludge, were tested. A multicriteria analysis was developed to identify the best available technique to manage industrial sludge with high concentration of heavy metals. Several characterization techniques for the evaluation of raw and treated sludge as well as the final products, were also tested. The final products after the application of all waste treatment techniques, were compared with the limits set by the relevant EU regulations in order to identify the possible end users or/and disposal sites.

Research Project. Funded by the Research Promotion Foundation of Cyprus. Total Budget: 100,000 Euro. Major partners: ISOTECH ltd (Project Manager) and the Department of Chemical Engineering, Laboratory of waste treatment, National Technical University of Athens, Greece

Study undertaken by Proplan ltd Industrial Consultants and technically supported by ISOTECH ltd. Funded by the Ministry of Interior, Cyprus.

Study undertaken by Proplan ltd Industrial Consultants and technically supported by ISOTECH ltd. Funded by the Ministry of Interior, Cyprus. Total Budget: 60,000 Euro

ISOTECH LTD in cooperation with Proplan Ltd, participated in the technical team for consulting Electricity Authority of Cyprus on the Best Available Techniques for the operation of the effluent treatment plant of Dhekelia Power Station.

Study undertaken by Proplan ltd Industrial Consultants in cooperation with ISOTECH ltd. Funded by Mobil Oil (Cyprus) Ltd.

Study undertaken by Proplan ltd Industrial Consultants in cooperation with ISOTECH ltd. Funded by Mobil Oil (Cyprus) Ltd.