NORSUS researches how waste streams can become new, valuable resources in circular value chains.
We are facing increasing waste volumes both nationally and globally. At the same time, resource scarcity, climate commitments and the EU's focus on the circular economy demand higher material recovery rates and reduced use of virgin raw materials.
With our research on waste resources, we address the demand for knowledge about where waste resources arise, in what quantities and qualities, and how they can be used in new circular value chains – for example through reuse, material recovery, biogas and biofertiliser, industrial symbiosis or carbon capture and storage (CCS) for residual waste.
Our research provides decision support for municipalities, waste and energy companies, industry and authorities when planning the collection, sorting, treatment and further use of waste resources. The results are used to develop more cost-effective and climate-friendly collection and treatment systems, identify new industrial clusters and symbioses, and support the design of policies and measures for waste, energy and the circular economy.
We combine life cycle assessments (LCA), material flow analyses, GIS-based mapping, quantitative models and economic analyses to evaluate environmental and resource efficiency throughout the chain from waste production to resulting new raw materials or energy. The work includes modelling various collection and treatment solutions (such as biogas, pyrolysis, energy recovery with or without CCS, and material recovery of plastic and fibre-based packaging), analyses of policy instruments and incentives, and development of decision support tools for public and private actors.
A current example is our work in mapping waste resources from industry in individual regions, where we identify important resource streams (such as timber, organic waste and plastic), possible industrial symbioses and recommended clusters for new circular value chains. Other key projects include developing innovative waste logistics for more cost-effective and environmentally friendly collection in municipalities, as well as projects evaluating the management of organic waste streams, plastic and packaging using LCA and associated sustainability indicators.
