Project description Environmental issues Beneficiaries Administrative data Read more

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1 Project demonstrating the total use of rice husk as an agricultural by-product for its industrial use in the automotive and packaging sector. LIFE97 ENV/E/ Project description Environmental issues Beneficiaries Administrative data Read more Contact details: Project Manager: - Tel: Fax: Project description: Background In the traditional production of Rice a considerable portion of the husk is discarded. This can create serious environmental problems as it is usually burnt or dumped in the river as agricultural waste. The Cámara Arrocera de Amposta in the Ebro Delta currently only makes use of 30% of the husk in its white rice production. This level of recycling not only involves a high unitary energy consumption but creates the additional problem of what to do with the remaining 70%. The rice cultivation methods used by the Cooperative members are almost completely ecological and help to conserve the natural marshlands of the Ebro Delta, the 2nd most important Wetland area in Spain in terms of Flora and Fauna. With the impact of globalization, the Company is also searching for ways of obtaining value-added from their ecological processes in order to preserve the traditional agricultural family economy in the area, whilst contributing to the conservation of a valuable natural environment. One solution proposed by the Company is to investigate ways of recycling this considerable volume of rice husk waste into value-added products. Objectives The project proposed to develop a pilot demonstration plant for analyzing, treating and recycling the rice husk for different industrial applications. In this way value-added would be achieved from a key agricultural waste product,

2 eliminating the problems of dumping and contributing to the preservation of a vulnerable natural environment. The project would focus on producing recycled goods in two fields: packaging materials and automobile parts. The husk would first be shredded in a specially installed unit, before passing through the drying stage to lower the humidity levels and temperature to 5º. In this way, optimum quality could be provided to meet the needs of the packaging company and automobile parts clients. The project planned to use the final recycled packaging in the commercialization of its own products ( rice and fresh market garden produce), thus providing an integrated ecological marketing strategy. This would be further supported by extensive publicity and dissemination of the product and process supported by the LIFE program. Results The project succeeded in developing a viable industrial process which would recycle 80-90% of the rice husk, reducing by 100% the problem of agricultural waste from the Ebro Delta rice production. This proportion could rise to as much as 95% during the period of germination and sowing, as long as the husk was in good condition. The value-added gained by this total recycling of the rice residue, could help to ensure the economic and environmental sustainability of rice production as part of the special ecosystem of the Ebro Delta wetland area. The project completed the installation and preparation of the Husk Shredding Plant on schedule, however the operational phrase encountered some problems. These were firstly related to achieving the optimum humidity of the rice husk. The projects prospective clients (the firms NATUREPACK: manufacturing recycled packaging material and RIBAWOOD: automobile parts), required the lowest possible levels of humidity to achieve control over production times and a quality final product. The project was therefore obliged to acquire a Rice Husk Drying Unit as an adjunct to the Shredder. The high temperature achieved in the Drying Unit, then led to a serious fire which brought the plant to a halt for a period, requiring an overhaul of the interior of the drying drum and a complete revision of health and safety procedures within the plant. As the beneficiary is a cooperative, much effort had to be put into informing on progress and convincing coop members of the value of the project to the industry. Only through regular meetings and assemblies was it possible to get full agreement to make the requisite investment for the additional Drying Unit. The successful completion of the industrial process led to the signing of contract with NATUREPACK for the supply of rice husk worth 4 million kgs. a year at a humidity of 3-5º C at the moment of delivery. It was expected that this amount would increase in the following years. The project invested considerable time and effort in promoting extensive media coverage through regional TV and Radio as well as producing publicity material, brochures and pamphlets. This was particularly focused around a consumer information drive geared to publicizing the ecological approach promoted by the beneficiary in the packaging and production of their rices, including the Life Logo. An additional poster campaign was aimed at large grocery chains and distribution outlets. Presentation samples of the newly packaged rice were also delivered to charities, housewives and pensioners association at a local and provincial level. The project also carried out a high-profile public awareness drive with the local population, holding the first Montsia Rice Day in November 1999 with people attending. Here they learnt about rice-cultivation techniques, the operation of the husk recycling

3 plant and the contribution made by ecological rice production and recycling towards the sustainable development of the Ebro Delta. Environmental issues addressed: Themes Industry-Production - Agriculture - Forestry Waste - Agricultural waste Waste - Waste use Waste - Packaging and plastic waste Keywords by-product waste use packaging agricultural waste Target EU Legislation Waste Directive 75/442/EEC -"Waste framework directive" ( ) COM(1996)399 - Communication on an updated "Community strategy for waste management" ( )... Nature protection and Biodiversity COM(95) "Communication on the judicious use and conservation of wetlands" ( ) Natura 2000 sites Not applicable Beneficiaries: Coordinator Type of organisation Camara Arrocera de Amposta SME Small and medium sized enterprise

4 Description Partners The Cámara Arrocera de Amposta is the most important rice-producing Cooperative in Spain and the leading market gardening company in Cataluña, producing tons of rice with husk and tons of market garden produce. Its members currently cultivate Has. of rice paddies and Has. of garden vegetables, generally as family farms. The rice-producing areas border on the Natural Park of the Ebro Delta, a protected environmental zone renowned for its rich wildlife and traditional water-based economic activity. NATURE PACK, manufacturers of recyclable ecological packaging materials RIBAWOOD, manufacturer of automobile parts. Administrative data: Project reference LIFE97 ENV/E/ Duration 01-JAN-1997 to 01-JAN Total budget 831, EU contribution 217, Project location Cataluña(España) Read more: Poster Publication Title: Informe de Difusión Author: Camara Arrocera de Amposta Year: 1999 Title: Pamphlet advertising integrated product and recycled packaging Author: Camara Arrocera de Amposta Title: Progress Report Author: Camara Arrocera de Amposta Year: 1999 Title: Integrated Product and recycled packaging poster Title: Publicity Leaflet Project description Environmental issues Beneficiaries Administrative data Read more

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