B3-Demonstration character of the project

DEMONSTRATION CHARACTER OF THE PROJECT(max. 10.000 characters)^discuss Note: for forests monitoring projects this box should not be filled in

The COWS project will be a full-scale application of integration of co-digestion of WWTP sludges and OF-MSW, including prototype pre-treatment separation technology to obtain highly mixable slurry.

The demonstration character of the project focuses on three different aspects: (1) demonstration of the feasibility of COWS on a full scale level, (2) demonstration of the cost efficiency and time efficiency of COWS and (3) demonstration of the environmental benefits of COWS .

During the last part of the project in Action B4 two main activities will take place that enhance the demonstration character of COWS:

• the accumulated experience and know-how will be elicited and organised ih a handbook that aims at facilitating the evaluation and implementation of COWS solution
• during the demonstration run it will be possible for interested professionals and decision makers to see the functioning of COWS process in "showcase mode" which means that all adjustments and modification issues as well as the functioning and replication of COWS pre-treatment prototype unit may be examined in-depth.

EU ADDED VALUE OF THE PROJECT AND ITS ACTIONS^discuss (max. 10.000 characters)

COWS put in practice a demonstration of an innovative solution for upgrading existing sludge treatment plants while improving the effectiveness of OFMSW handling.

Potential users of this solution are more than 30.000 similar facilities in Europe.

COWS Project addresses directly the achievement of regulatory and legal compliance with environmental objectives of EU importance, contributing and enabling the implementation of the Water Framework Directive, the Urban Wastewater Directive, the Waste Directive and the Waste Water Sludge Directive.

COWS addresses also the pillars of Europa 2020 on the side of reducing environmental pressure from waste and improving the capacity to exploit energy production from renewable or quasi-renewable sources.

The effort of COWS to make available a handbook for its replication will help the enforcement of EU waste legislation and best practices. Moreover it will contribute to preparatory works in view of better collaboration for coordinated enforcement of water and waste framework directives by water utilities and waste management utilities together updating their practices to taking into account available technical solutions as that demonstrated in COWS.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF THE PROJECT^discuss (max. 10.000 characters)

During the implementation of COWS there will be a positive impact in terms of occupational effects both within the beneficiary organisation itself (between 3 workers and 2 technicians will be hired to work on the COWS plant) and on the side of the suppliers where it is expected some positive figures but which is not directly under the control of beneficiaries.

Other positive effects - possibly reached through dissemination activities and involvement of main stakeholders in preparatory actions - will be a growing social awareness about the positive impacts of the plant.

There is increasing awareness that the total amount of municipal solid waste is continuously rising. Not so for the the problem of sewage sludge which seem to be less understood as an environmental problem by the average citizen. Showing the figures of the solution brought about by COWS is possibly a deterrent to the NIMBY effect, given that the facility is already there and the project transforms it in a power-generating plant instead of being a flare-torch exhaust. This will help realizing that the tons of solid waste and of sewage sludge to be safely disposed without any negative impact to the environment are a part of the solution to the quest for energy in sufficient and sustainable amount as pre-condition for economic and social development.

COWS helps demonstrating that, depending on the way the energy is produced, it may contribute to environmental problems related to water, land and air pollution and global climate change.

In the case of the COWS solution, luckily, there is the possibility, foreseen by the model itself, of building the plant inside an existing treatment facility located in a peripheral zone, with the only possible addition of traffic in the area. Moreover, the solution will not affect inhabited zones because the COWS plant is near a motorway interchange.

The design of COWS takes also account of the fact that the reception, storage and treatment stages all take place in a closed environment and with a slight depression of the atmosphere so as to reduce the fermentation odors of the OFMSW.

Lastly, the point should be emphasized that, though indirectly, for citizens the "COWS effect" could mean savings on their waste disposal bills in the long run.

The economic impact of the project is twofold.

• the investment for the implementation of COWS acts as a leverage that increases local economy.
• There is a long term economic effect which is related to increased effectiveness on running costs for the community.

The economic balance of the project shows that each year there will be an improvement of operational costs in the order of 400.000 EUR.

During COWS implementation a specific action will be devoted to monitor and assess this impacts (please see Action C3).

EFFORTS FOR REDUCING THE PROJECT'S "CARBON FOOTPRINT"^discuss (max. 10.000 characters)

Beneficiaries believe that efforts to keep project's carbon footprint low should focus on:

• projects management activities;
• implementation actions;
• content of the project.

From the management point of view the COWS Project will adopt an internal code of conduct to reduce its carbon footprint. Fortunately partners' offices are located in the same neighborhood.

Moreover, the use of printed flysheets, proceedings, and data collections will be strongly limited. Regarding specific communication materials, only the parts of the Layman's report, leaflets and some posters will be printed on recycled paper.

Transportation will be minimized, with the exception of the trips that involve activities to be eventually carried out on European territory (exchange and visits with other networks and projects).

On implementation actions, "greening clauses" will be included in procurement contracts, following the guidelines already in place at SEARIS, SEAAMB and COMVIA (and improving them if possible).

On the content of the project carbion footprint reduction is a key target, accounting for more than 1,450 TCO2/year and 400 TOE per year saved when COWS will be fully operational. Similar figures would be spared for each COWS-like upgrading of existing anaerobic sewage sludge treatment plant.

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