Publication on the project ‘Conversion of agricultural waste into activated biochar for use in water treatment’

Waste management is one of the main concerns in developed countries due to its enormous impact on the environment. It is clear that industrial activity, like almost all human activity, has an impact on the surrounding environment. Intensive agricultural activity is considered one of the main sources of pollution of groundwater, surface water and soil. This issue is particularly relevant in Andalusia, where agriculture plays a fundamental role in socio-economic development. The fact that agricultural activity in Andalusia coexists with an economy supported by the tourism sector makes the protection of the landscape and natural resources a fundamental objective, which has led to the adoption of various measures of differing scope to improve the management of agricultural resources. Therefore, given the significant socio-economic importance of the agri-food sector in Andalusia, alongside the need for proper management of the waste generated, it is necessary to develop initiatives which, in accordance with regulations, promote the reuse of agri-food waste in a more environmentally and economically sustainable manner. At European level, one of the key objectives of the Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC is the full implementation of the waste management hierarchy across all Member States, according to which prevention is the best management option, followed, in that order, by reuse, recycling, energy recovery and, finally, disposal (landfilling and incineration without energy recovery).