Irstea

Irstea is a French public research body with a primary role of producing information that is directly useable in land and water management. Its principal output is new knowledge and related technical innovations for use by managers, decisions-makers and companies in providing answers to the specific questions concerning resource management, land use and development. A rigorous scientific approach is a crucial factor for the success achieved in engineering research.

Two research units (UR) of Irstea are established in Rennes. The Irstea UR GERE designs and develops biological treatment processes for municipal wastes and wastes from agriculture (livestock effluents) and the agro-industry (sludge), with the aim of optimising management. Environmental, economic and sanitary factors are the evaluation criteria. Use of modelling tools for the various processes (biochemical, biological) complements the experimental approaches on pilot sites and/or in operational units. Expert appraisals and technical-support activities carried out with a number of partners (farmers, local governments, system operators, and industrial companies) complete the research activities in the field. In the framework of its recent development, the unit has been equipped with specialised analytical laboratories, a conditioning and storage building and a building with pilot scale facilities. In the special theme of biological treatment of solid wastes, the team as developed specific competencies concerning:

• Sampling, characterization methods (sorting, physical and chemical analyses, respirometry)

• Technical, economic and environmental evaluation of the waste reuse and treatment

• Understanding, modelling and optimizing composting processes

Moreover, the UR GERE is involved in the French national plan for home composting development (Plan National de Soutien au Compostage Domestique – ADEME/ MEDAD) as a technical expert. The UR GERE also participates with RM in the R&D Project ECCOVAL, financed by the Brittany Regional Council, which focuses on the factors favouring active participation of local households in home composting activities.

Objectives of Irstea

Summary of Anne Tremier’s speech.

“Through the Miniwaste project, Irstea wants to develop the technical knowledge about composting. This will make up for the lack of data caused by the difficulty to evaluate the home-composting.

As researchers, our principal tasks are, firstly to define the methodologies which evaluate the quantification of waste diverted thanks to composting and secondly to validate different protocols of evaluation. Our status will valorize the scientific and technical results. This approach will bring credibility to the project and will give it a more important impact towards the European municipalities."

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