Articles

The concept of balance can be defined as the equilibrium between two or more situations. The term is applicable to different fields, such as physics or economics, but today we will focus on the environment. In speaking of "ecological balance" we cannot fail to mention one of the most valuable natural habitats on the Iberian Peninsula, the Iberian dehesa grassland.

The shortage of raw materials, a lack of materials to manufacture new electronic devices and intensive use of technology all come together in a new global context. Within this scenario, Fundación Ecolec has, through its activity and different initiatives, enabled citizens and social agents to become aware of the importance of correct WEEE management as a sustainable way of recovering precious metals.

Water operators have long been stewards of an essential resource, and water infrastructure is a cornerstone of every prosperous economy. But today's water systems are also major sources of greenhouse gases (GHGs). And this...

We begin 2022 with FuturENVIRO’s special issue of the year on water, featuring our by now well established section entitled “In depth: Analysis of 2021”. In this section, leading actors and trade associations from the sector offer a review of the most significant events in the water industry during the past year.

the CIRCULAR CARBON project seeks to develop and commission a pilot plant to convert waste generated in Valencia into activated carbons with high added value for applications in the energy and environment sectors.

We begin 2022 with FuturENVIRO’s special issue of the year on waste, featuring our by now well established section entitled “In depth: Analysis of 2021”. In this section, leading actors and trade associations from the sector offer a review of the most significant events in the waste industry during the past year.

Recyclia, the entity which manages the Ecoasimelec, Ecofimática and Ecopilas foundations, was created in April 2012 to avail of synergies and combine the experience and knowledge accumulated over two decades in the waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and battery recycling sector.

Reducing methane emissions: a new opportunity for energy recovery | FuturENVIRO

Caring for the planet. A matter for women? | Marta Perez Dorao, President of the Inspiring Girls Foundation and CEO of the Spanish Federation of Household Appliance Distributors (FECE)

The production of Solid Recovered Fuels (SRF) and Refuse Derived Fuels (RDF) is a strategic component of integrated waste management policy. It also forms part of energy strategy and the fight against climate change....

IBSTT - Trenchless technologies are vital in the transition to a circular economy

Beneficios de las energías renovables en la producción de agua potable

An entire sector against eSIR | Ion Olaeta, President of FER, member of the Board of Directors of EuRIC and Vice-president of the European Plastics Recycling Board (EPRB).

Innovation system at the crossroads | FuturENVIRO

The new electronic platform for waste gives rise to great concern

TEIMAS: Spearheading digital transformation in the waste sector

The need of more efficient agricultural planning under increasing water scarcity events | FuturENVIRO | EIT Food

Installation of catalytic system enables 50% reduction in NOx emissions at Grupo Tersa Waste-to-Energy plant

Derivación de materia orgánica y nitrógeno mediante el proceso PRONOX

Galicia, green, blue and speaking in the feminine gender

Balers, compactors & ballistic separators. Comparative Table & Technical Guide (2021)

RESPECT: Desarrollo de procesos de reciclado sostenibles para la industria del plástico

TRIHSENS: Preventive strategies to improve water quality

Wastewater management has historically been considered as a system to eliminate a "purely urban" problem by collecting and conveying wastewater from population centres to the receiving waters as quickly as possible. The main aim...

La EDAR italiana de Nosedo consigue ahorros 630.000 euros anuales gracias a hubgrade performance

The project to purify biogas from the Can Mata controlled landfill in Barcelona will make this Ferrovial Services facility the first in Spain to recover landfill gas for conversion into biomethane and injection into the natural gas transmission grid.

Grupo Neoelectra implements a thermal drying system driven by combined heat and power (CHP) at the company’s manure treatment plant in Artajona (Navarra). This enables the sludge produced in wastewater treatment plants to be...

La innovación y la sostenibilidad son garantía de futuro

Revolution in desalination systems

What should be the focus of R&D&i in the Spanish water sector?

Ecopick ayuda a optimizar la clasificación y reciclaje de residuos farmacéuticos en la planta de Biotran

LIFE DREAMER – Demostración de un sistema de desalación altamente sostenible

Reduction of Tagus-Segura Water Transfer volumes – an environmental and socioeconomic impact to be borne in mind

Los residuos se reivindican como recursos para aportar valor a la industria

The great potential of biomass in the agriculture and forestry sector

Empezamos el año con un primer número especial de agua de FuturENVIRO, con nuestra ya instaurada sección especial denominada “A Fondo: Análisis 2020”. Una sección en las que personalidades y asociaciones del sector del agua hacen un repaso de los acontecimientos más importantes en el sector del agua durante el año.

STADLER and TOMRA delivered the fully automated sorting plant for Sysav Industri AB, which sorts pre- and post-consumer mixed textile waste in southern Skåne, in Sweden. STADLER designed and built the plant, while TOMRA...

Empezamos el año con un primer número especial de agua de FuturENVIRO, con nuestra ya instaurada sección especial denominada “A Fondo: Análisis 2020”. Una sección en las que personalidades y asociaciones del sector del agua hacen un repaso de los acontecimientos más importantes en el sector del agua durante el año.

Domingo Zarzo Martínez, President of the AEDyR We find ourselves at a time of crisis and opportunity, a time of great promise but also one of great challenges. On the face of it, weare nearing...

Sanitation and wastewater treatment project in the agricultural district of Hervás (Cáceres)

Al-Khobar 1, built by ACCIONA and owned by Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC), is one of the biggest desalination plants in Saudi Arabia. It will provide a service to 350,000 people. ACCIONA has completed the...

Integrated waste management is one of the greatest challenges facing the metropolis of Barcelona. This includes prevention and taking the steps necessary to move from a linear to a circular economy in which the...

Evolving towards a circular economy is a very important challenge for any society due to what it involves: more efficient use of resources and reducing the exploitation of raw materials in order to guarantee...

ScrapAd, plataforma mundial para conectar compradores y vendedores de todo tipo de residuos y metales

  VISCA project aims to meet the need of adapting the vineyards to climate change by providing a software application integrating climate, agricultural and end-users’ specifications in order to design medium- and long-term adaptation strategies...

    MAGNETIC BEARINGS VS AIR FOIL BEARINGS Bearings based on simple physics As an effective bearing without any mechanical friction at all, AERZEN uses compressed air in the two radial drive shaft bearings and the...

The production of Solid Recovered Fuels (SRF) and Refuse Derived Fuels (RDF) is a strategic component of integrated waste management policy. It also forms part of energy strategy and the fight against climate change....

The planet is now facing major challenges associated with our current way of life, including demographic growth, waste management and the reduction of global greenhouse gas emissions. In light of these and other problems, the...

The microbiota is the set of microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, etc.) that live in a particular environment. Our digestive system benefits from its presence, as these microorganisms produce energy and vitamins and help absorb calcium...

According to the United Nations, 53.6 million tonnes of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) was generated worldwide in 2019. This is the equivalent of 7.3 kg per capita, 21% higher than in 2014,...

Influenced by this technological reality in Europe and the foreseeable influx of funds associated with “green reconstruction”, several renewable gas projects are being undertaken in Spain. Practically all agro-industrial biogas plants, landfills, large WWTPs...

  LIFE4FILM and LIFE PLASMIX In this report, we will describe the different stages and processes of two European LIFE projects based in Granada in which FCC is participating as project coordinator. The initial classification stages...

Canal de Isabel II was born almost 170 years ago for the purpose of addressing the technical and social challenge of making the growth of Madrid feasible, thereby preserving its status as capital of...

Due to their versatility and the manner in which they inherently lend themselves to innovation, plastics have a crucial role to play in the development of a sustainable economy and efficient use of resources....

We closed 2019 with more good news. An all-time record of 896,450 tonnes of glass jars and bottles was collected in the green containers. With each passing year, we are coming ever closer to...

The 15M movement brought about a change in the way of doing politics. The philosophy that decisions come unilaterally from government bodies has started to be questioned and it is now felt that account...

The Spanish Cabinet ratified the Spanish Circular Economy Strategy (EEEC) on June 5. The initiative dates all the way back to September 2017, when the then Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and Environmental Affairs,...

Quantitative environmental indicators Apart from the most common environmental impact categories in lifecycle assessment, such as climate change (measured in terms of carbon footprint), water consumption (measured by water footprint), and others such as...

The ambitious environmental legislation passed by the Government in recent weeks includes the long-awaited Spanish Circular Economy Strategy (EEEC) and the Bill on Waste and Contaminated Land. This provides a good platform on which...

In line with its objective to become a benchmark publication in the waste management and recovery market, FuturENVIRO presents a series of specials that are now regarded as invaluable reference and consultation guides for...

Valve automation and the use of valves in the chemical and petrochemical industry requires special care in the selection of the materials used in the manufacture of all parts, as well as definition of...

The circular economy is an economy in which the use of available material and energy resources is optimised so that these resources stay within the productive cycle for as long as possible. The circular...

Efficient water reuse contributes to the sustainability and protection of water resources. It constitutes an alternative source of water with a lower environmental impact than water transfers or desalination. Water reuse is an eminently...

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organisation declared the global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, which causes the illness known as COVID-19. This virus, which belongs to the coronavirus family, is transmitted amongst humans mainly through...

Specialists from all international organizations, and managers and policymakers will gain an in-depth look into how this project was formulated, and how it was, and still is, being implemented and monitored. They can also...

The Latin American Association of Desalination and Water Reuse (ALADYR) has established contact with different sectors operating in Ecuador in order to obtain an overview of the infrastructure scenario and investment opportunities in the...

  Publicly-owned company EDAR BENS SA, led by Carlos Lamora, provides the wastewater treatment services to A Coruña City Council and to the neighbouring municipalities of Arteixo, Cambre, Culleredo and Oleiros. The company serves approximately...

Engineering companies and clients who install Aerzen equipment often consult us on aspects of installation conditions. At Aerzen Ibérica, we are committed to providing our partners and FuturEnviro readers with all the knowledge we...

Water management in the region is highly vulnerable to the  effects of climate change and variability, with more severe droughts and the intensification of flooding events, which in the last 15 years have increased...

 Normality If a very concise summary were required, we could say that citizen perception of the urban water scenario remains perfectly normal. Once again, our sector has proved capable of guaranteeing the provision of...

Climate change is a reality supported by the numbers. Desertisation directly affects over 250 million people and threatens the main livlihoods of a billion people in 100 countries. Desalination is now a real alternative in...

The main features of a gate vale can essentially be found in the seal or gate, the operating stem and the manufacturing materials selected. Our highly innovative Euro 20 New valve was designed in...

Gestamp Biomass and FPT Energia e Ambiente have developed two biomass power plants located in Fundão and Viseu, in Portugal, each with an installed capacity of 15 MWe. Marguerite Fund, the pan-European fund headquartered...

Project partners Participating from Spain, and more specifically the Canary Islands, are: ITC, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), Consorcio para el diseño, construcción, equipamiento y explotación de...

This was added to in 2019 by another equally great or even greater milestone. Since last year, the plant has implemented digital intelligence to optimise its operation. Public services company Metropolitana Milanese SpA decided...

By the end of 2020, Canal de Isabel II will have implemented remote reading for 175,000 water meters and the company’s mass deployment plan envisages extending this to a million and a half meters...

The Spanish National Water Quality Plan (PNCA) features a number of actions that seek to achieve full compliance with Directive 91/271/EEC on urban wastewater treatment, as well as achieving the target of good ecological...

We begin 2020 with FuturENVIRO’s first special issue of the year on water, featuring our by now well established section entitled “In depth: Analysis of 2019”. In this section, leading actors and trade associations from...

It is estimated that between 640,000 and 800,000 tonnes of mfishing gear is lost worldwide annually and may remain in oceans for up to 600 years. This may well account for over 10% of...

  Can you imagine parents awarding grades to their own children? With the exception of the most conscientious parents, the impression would be created that all our sons and daughters were achieving academic excellence. But...

We begin 2020 with FuturENVIRO’s first special issue of the year on waste, featuring our by now well established section entitled “In depth: Analysis of 2019”.  In this section, leading actors and trade associations from the...

It is an honour for me to write this opinion article as the new President of the International Desalination Association (IDA). But, first of all, I would like to look back on 2019 as...

The solution lies in focusing our efforts on promoting the circular economy and fighting on all fronts to meet the European target of incorporating 10 million tonnes of recycled plastic into new products by...

EasyWaste (FREE) EasyWaste (FREE) is now available on the App Store and on Google Play. This version is free of charge and does not require registration. It allows users to access and contact responsible waste...

Sadako uses state of the art Deep Learning and Computer Vision technology to detect objects in very complex waste streams, in real time, today being the eyes and brain of urban waste robotic sorter...

The project aims to make a specific contribution to reducing inorganic waste through the adoption of more sustainable innovative concepts in agriculture and the food industry, with particular focus on SMEs. The REINWASTE consortium is...

Let us recall the words of Lebanese analytical chemist Najat Saliba, who leads the Analytical and Atmospheric Lab at AUB, and has received the L’Oréal-UNESCO Award for Women in Sciences. In a recent publication,...

  All of this is causing some sectors of public opinion to question the current role of irrigation agriculture, which is the greatest consumer of water. There are calls to increase the ecological flows of...

  Maynilad Water Services Inc. (MWSI), provider of water and wastewater services to the 17 cities and municipalities that make up the western area of Greater Manila, awarded the contract for the plant to a...

IoT technology consists of remotely measuring and controlling “things” that were previously disconnected and it reaches people and objects that previously could not be reached. And, in the process, it also contributes to achieving the...

  Nonetheless, despite the very positive figures, Ecoembes, the organisation which coordinates recycling in Spain, wishes to continue innovating in the quest for new solutions adapted to the daily lives of citizens, whilst helping local...

  Given current global population growth, the effects of climate change and changes in water consumption trends and legislative requirements, desalination of seawater, brackish water or wastewater is amongst the most efficient alternatives to guarantee...

  However, sewers whose size enables the entrance of people cannot be inspected in the same way. This is because their size goes hand-in-hand with a greater wastewater flow and a higher flow rate, making...

This opinion article provides a summary of 2018, an intense year, which I believe has laid the foundations for a change of economic, social and business model. I look forward to 2019 with optimism,...

In this context, selective waste collection is of special importance and more so if we bear in mind that the models being driven by the EU make it necessary to have greater investment at...

  Operational management and maintenance of the Harnaschpolder Wastewater Treatment Plant in Den Hoorn is carried out by Delfluent Services B.V. on behalf of the Delfland Water Authority. At this WWTP, approximately 6.5 million Nm3...

A priority within this rethinking process is to create a circular economy in which waste ceases to be considered a problem and is treated as a valuable resource that enables the prevention of overexploitation...

For the first time, in 2015, the Paris Agreement, within the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, established a global target for adaptation to climate change. The most transcendental aspect of this Agreement, whether...

As one of the main pillars of the event is to give visibility to these new generations of professionals who now stand out in this sector, the first thing I would like to do...

  It took over 30 years for a woman to be appointed President of this very large organisation. In 2019, the UN chose the following theme for International Women’s Day; “Think equal, build smart, innovate...

  Canal de Isabel II, S. A., through its Department for the Construction of Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Facilities, is the developer of the Soto Gutiérrez WWTP. The plant was built by FCC Construcción S....

  Canal de Isabel II, S. A., through its Department for the Construction of Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Facilities, is the developer of the Aranjuez WWTP. The plant was built by a consortium composed of...

  We live in a time of change thanks to digital transformation, a revolutionary process that has now made inroads into all areas of day-to-day life. Digitisation has opened up myriad possibilities for the enhancement...

  My brief, but very enriching, experience in 2011 in the “Gender and Science” unit of the Directorate General of Research opened my eyes; recognizing, and eliminating gender biases and stereotypes in science is a...

The challenge of Waste4Think is to improve waste management, not only in economic or operational terms, but also in terms of environmental and social impacts. For this purpose, each of the four pilot schemes...

  This renewable gas plant was built within the framework of the Life Methamorphosis project, which has the objective of demonstrating innovative technologies. The project is coordinated by Aqualia and the project consortium is made...

There are few activities that exemplify the circular model more than glass container recycling. It converts waste into a valuable resource and helps the environment by saving raw materials and energy, as well as...

Asphalt mixtures are the most commonly used material for the construction of paved surfaces worldwide. During the manufacture and onsite laying of these mixes, it is necessary to heat aggregates and binders to temperatures...

40 years ago, American John Goodenough invented the lithium  ion battery, which powers laptops, smartphones and many other electronic devices. Since then, numerous companies have joined the race to develop powerful, safe, long-life power units....

  Since the year 2000, there has been a great change in the way we produce and consume our garments. Fashion is currently the planet’s 2nd most polluting industry and it is estimated that 20%...