CoastNutriCycle​​

Circular Valorisation of Coastal and Marine Waste​​

Core Focus


CoastNutriCycle sets up a circular municipal system in Viimsi and Harku to collect, sort and valorise beach-cast algae, reed biomass and marine litter into compost and peat-free soil improver. Combining baseline assessment, pilot collection, composting trials and product development, the project will permanently remove nitrogen and phosphorus from the Baltic and create a replicable municipal model. ​​

Challenge


Coastal municipalities lack an integrated, scalable system for beach-cast biomass and marine litter. It is cleared for amenity then landfilled as mixed waste, causing emissions, disposal costs and continued nitrogen and phosphorus circulation in the Baltic. There is no coordinated collection, sorting or valorisation, and viable circular value chains barely exist in Estonia.​​

Key Activities

  • Assess biomass volumes, nutrient content and current disposal practices.​
  • Map collection logistics and pilot sites with the municipalities.​
  • Run collection campaigns and sort litter from biomass.​
  • Conduct composting, contamination and salinity trials and develop soil improvers.​
  • Deliver municipal workshops, guidelines and a replication toolkit 

Communities Engaged

  • Citizen science & community education​
  • Blue tech & digital innovation  ​
  • Enterprises for inclusion & skills ​
  • Local Action Groups (CLLD)​
  • Waterfront cities & regional authorities ​
  • Conservation & environmental protection ​
  • Tourism sector

Project info

  • Funding instrument: Community-Led Actions

  • Lead partner: Association of Estonian Cities and Municipalities (AECM) (Estonia)

  • Consortium members:
    • Estonian University of Life Sciences EULS (EE)
    • Viimsi Municipality (EE)
    • Harku Municipality (EE)
    • Biomuld OU (EE)
    • Eesti Jaatmehoolduskeskus EJHK (EE)

  • Project Budget: €726.450,00​

  • Country of implementation: Estonia

  • Project duration: Up to 24 months