CEOMED
Employing circular economy approach for OFMSW management within the Mediterranean countries

About the project

Hundreds of local open markets are distributed across the Mediterranean region. Local open market waste management, which represents a big challenge for the area, is directly affected by population growth and concentration, urbanization and tourism. For instance, the waste flow rate varies from 3 to 5 and 10 to 12 tons per day in the open markets located in Sfax (Tunisia) and Amman (Jordan), respectively. In view of the large influx of inhabitants expected in urban areas (72% of the population of the Mediterranean region will probably be living in urban areas in 2025), the sustainable management of waste in markets is now a priority. CEOMED aims to reduce municipal waste generation, promote source-separated collection and the optimal exploitation of the organic component by recovering energy and recycling nutrients. Additionally, the project will train local stakeholders, i.e. consumers, sellers, the informal sector of waste collecting, scholars, farmers, technical and administrative staff, to make sure they have the knowledge and skills to contribute to improving waste management. 

Key information

CEOMED
Employing circular economy approach for OFMSW management within the Mediterranean countries
B.4 Environmental protection, climate change adaptation and mitigation
B.4.2 Waste management
Spain, Italy, Greece, Jordan, Tunisia

Financial data

3.1 million
Total budget
2.8 million
EU contribution
%
10%
Project co-financing

Highlights

Project in numbers

6
Partners
5
Countries
15
Technical outputs

Project duration

Start date
End date

Partnership

News

Events

Library

Deliverables

Documents

Videos

What will be improved?

The project will lead to the design of new waste management plans in the cities of Amman and Sfax which focus and address separately the waste produced from fruits and vegetables wholesale markets. Following a circular approach, the organic fraction of waste from markets will be treated by a biological process (anaerobic digestion) using the digestate as a fertilizer in the farms that provide fresh products to the local markets.

Who will benefit?

  • Managers of local markets
  • 500 businesses using the markets daily to buy and sell fresh products
  • 2,500 daily customers 
  • Technical and administrative staff from the municipalities of Amman and Sfax 
  • Local farmers
     

Expected achievements

  • 1 specific methodology developed for the efficient collection, separation, and exploitation of waste from open-air markets 
  • 2 pilot anaerobic digesters for organic waste valorization installed at fruits/vegetable wholesale markets in Amman and Sfax
  • 750 tons/year as total waste recycling capacity installed 
  • 1,500 tons of biodegradable waste reused as fertilizers
  • 2 new plans for integrated management of waste from open-air markets
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Project news

CEOMED presented research results at a bioresource technology conference

Through two posters demonstrating part of the work realised in biowaste management from a technical and social acceptance point of view

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CEOMED in Spain published a new scientific paper on fertiliser produced from agricultural waste

The National Council of Scientific Research in Murcia (CEBAS institute) published an article about the carbon and nitrogen in soils and how …

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CEOMED in Tunisia organises an event to share its results on organic waste management

During 26th and 27th of April 2023, CEOMED will celebrate its final project meeting in Sfax,Tunisia.

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CEOMED in Spain publishes a scientific article on the optimization of fertilisers obtained from organic waste

This scientific article demonstrates the effects of the organic matter content in the digestion of the waste treated by CEOMED.

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CEOMED presented at an info day on innovation and technology transfer in Tunisia

Waste management through anaerobic digestion presented at innovation and technology transfer event.

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CEOMED in Tunisia received the visit of the Joint Technical Secretariat to Sfax pilot on waste management

The Centre of Biotechnology of Sfax explained and showed them the activities developed regarding the anaerobic digestion of organic waste.

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CEOMED in Jordan collaborates with the municipality of Amman and the Ministry of Water an Irrigation to optimize its waste management plan

To obtain relevant technical data and compare them to enhance the implementation of the organic waste man…

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CEOMED in Jordan tries to improve organic waste management

Results on characterization of organic waste and of mid-scale anaerobic digester were presented during a monitoring visit.

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CEOMED: New scientific publication under the project activities

The Superior Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) published a book chapter on anaeorbic digestion.

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CEOMED in Italy opens three new positions

Deadline to apply : 28th November 2022

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CEOMED in Greece participated in Beyond 4.0, the International Innovation Exhibition

It was a good opportunity for the Greek partner to promote CEOMED work among journalists and other universities.

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CEOMED in Spain publishes a scientific article on waste management processes

In this article, they demonstrate that the seasonality of feedstock affects the results of anaerobic digestion.

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CEOMED in Tunisia is taking part in various events on waste management

From summer school on solid waste management to a think tank on the economic value of natural resources, CEOMED in Tunisia is proactive in different events.

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CEOMED in Jordan collected interesting information about people´s perception on waste management

The survey reveals that 85% of the interviewess at the local market in Amman say that they are not informed about the waste collection syste…

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CEOMED in Jordan will rely on local constructor for its organic waste management pilot

The equipment needed for the pilot will be constructed by a Jordanian company.

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CEOMED inspires the Greater Municipality of Amman in organic waste management

The Greater Municipality of Amman is interested in replicating CEOMED process. A specialist from the Greater Amman Municipality requests some tests using different feedstocks …

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CEOMED offers a lab position for a six-month contract

The position is looking for one researcher with an MSc degree in Environmental Engineering or related field of knowledge. Deadline to apply: 10/08/2022

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CEOMED participated in a workshop for PhD students

The University of Naples Federico II (UNINA), Italian parnter of CEOMED, organised a workshop for PhD student where CEOMED and its results were presented.

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CEOMED in Tunisia conducted surveys about waste management in local open market in Sfax

The first result of the survey´s analysis indicates a gap between people´s understanding of waste management and their perception of how impactful it can be to them.

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CEOMED attended the Spanish Roundtable for Waste Treatment (META) 2022

Our colleagues from the CSIC (Superior Council for Scientific Investigations) presented the CEOMED project to two of the Andalusian most prominent Universities.

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CEOMED project started its pilot in waste management in Sfax, Tunisia

Sellers at the fruit and vegetable open market were very collaborative in sorting waste and the first result of the pilot is promising towards producing a good fertiliser.

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CEOMED in Tunisia is hiring a lab technician

A lab technician is required in the Laboratory of Environmental Bioprocesses. Deadline to submit your application: 10th June 2022

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CEOMED in Spain is looking for an auditor

The deadline to apply is on 17th May 2022.

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CEOMED in Spain raises awareness about scientific research

​​​​​​​Through puppet theatre or via an avatar, CEOMED partners use innovative ways to promote scientific careers and encourage organic waste management among children and young students.

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CEOMED re-starts the project with a new woman employee in Tunisia

She will study the anaerobic digestion of fruits and vegetable waste at the pilot scale and investigate the main parameters to optimise it.

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CEOMED is hiring a PhD student

The call closes on13th March 2022

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Meet the key researchers of the CEOMED project

Sonia, Rafael and Pilar from Spain. Khaldoun and Maha form Jordan. Luigi and Giovanni from Italy: meet the key researchers of the CEOMED project.

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Tunisia: two new positions under CEOMED project

The calls for applications are open until 16/09/2020

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Do you want to meet the faces of CEOMED? Last episode: IDENER

Interview with Santiago Rodríguez-Pérez, project coordinator of the CEOMED project at IDENER.

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CEOMED: tender for a bioreactor in Jordan

The deadline for the submission of bids is 10.08.2020.

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Young researchers discuss their involvement in the CEOMED project

They are young and talented. They are the future of science. In this article, we would like to introduce our young researchers from Greece, Italy, Tunisia and Spain.

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25 May 2020
Do you want to meet the faces of CEOMED? Part 5: the Centre of Biotechnology of Sfax, Tunisia

Meet Dr Sami Sayadi, author of over 350 articles in peer-reviewed international journals and coordinator of CEOMED pilot actions for the bioconversion of organic waste.

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21 May 2020
Do you want to meet the faces of CEOMED? Part 4: The University of Jordan

Meet Dr. Ghada Kassab, assistant professor at the Civil Engineering Department of the University of Jordan.

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03 May 2020
Do you want to meet the faces of CEOMED? Part 2

CEOMED is a project about the valorisation of waste from open-local markets to obtain energy and fertilisers and develop an entire process with the objective of Zero waste.

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28 April 2020
Meet the faces of CEOMED project? Part 1

Stefano Papirio from the University of Naples Federico II discusses the use anaerobic digestion for the treatment of organic waste.

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12 February 2020
Job vacancy at University of Naples under the CEOMED project

The deadline for receiving applications is 3rd of March 2020.

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05 February 2020
CEOMED project: PhD and post-doctoral positions at the Democritus University of Thrace

The Democritus University of Thrace is hiring one PhD candidate and two post-doctoral researchers in the framework of the CEOMED project.

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04 February 2020
Job vacancy at the University of Jordan under the CEOMED project

The University of Jordan is looking for a research assistant. The deadline for sending applications is 23rd March 2020.

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10 December 2019
Waste management in Mediterranean open-air markets: launch of the CEOMED project​

The CEOMED project aims to develop an entire chain of valorization of the solid fraction of organic waste produced in open-air markets.