Plastigarbi
The problem of waste accumulating in water has reached a critical stage. In addition to being a problem in the Basque Country, it is also an international problem: plastic waste accounts for 85% of ocean pollution; it threatens biodiversity, contributing to global warming and destroying the environment; and, after a while, this material becomes difficult to treat. If all this were not enough, if this continues, by 2060 the global consumption of plastic will multiply by 2.5.
Faced with this situation, the partners and collaborators of Udalbiltza have felt the need to do something. Consequently, Udalbiltza, in collaboration with other agents, has initiated the process of elaboration of the project called PLASTIGARBI. The aim is to establish a cross-border network for the collection, classification and processing of marine debris: those arriving at shores and beaches, those collected at sea or in rivers and abandoned recreational vessels.
After a long period of work, the project has been programmed within the second call for European cross-border projects POCTEFA 2021-2027. The project began at the presentation ceremony held on March 10 in Getaria and will last for three years.
The coastal towns of the Basque Country will be the focus of this project, which will follow different actions or lines that can be developed in parallel:
First, first.
The first action or line will consist of the identification of the economic, social and legislative environment of the area affected by the project. A technical-economic cartography will be carried out of the agents involved in the collection and recycling of waste, that is, those agents that have been related will be identified and characterized technically, economically, socially and legally. Based on this cartography, the agents that can collaborate in the project will be identified. There will also, of course, be an identification of the waste accumulated in this coastal area, as well as an analysis of the legislation and taxes available for its collection and processing or recovery. To conclude with this line, the location of the experimentation area will be determined.
Second.-
Another action or line of work will carry out the valorization of plastic waste received, promoting cross-border technological cooperation. With a combination of different techniques that are mastered, technical partners will work to give a second life to the identified polymers, in the form of matter or energy, also addressing the problems of end-of-life packaging, which are a source of plastic waste and pollution.
Third
To achieve this, a third line of work will work to strengthen the cross-border network. In all the activities included in the project (characterization, collection and recovery of waste and agents), the collaboration of agents from different territories and states will be promoted, opening up new perspectives and paths.
Partners
Although the coordination of this project will be carried out by Udalbiltza PLASTIGARBI will be carried out with the collaboration of many partners: UPPA (Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour), ESTIA (Bidart School of Engineering and Research Center), IFHVP (expert in energy diversification) ALTENS (Company specialized in the energy transition of transport), Leartiker (Technological Centre specialising in Food Technology and Polymer Technology) and the Plentzia Marine Station (Marine Biology and Experimental Biotechnology Research Centre of the UPV/EHU).
The project will also count on some second-level partners: the municipalities of Plentzia, Lekeitio, Mutriku, Zumaia, Orio and Hendaia; the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa; the Department of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques; the mixed union Bil ta garbi; the Basque Coast Scientific Interest Group belonging to the mixed union Kosta garbi; and the Marine Development Association.
Key elements of the project
Full name: Plastigarbi – Cross-border technological cooperation for the development of a value chain around the collection, treatment and recovery of waste.
Financing: 1,587,545 euros, of which 65% corresponds to Interreg POCTEFA 2021-2027 (FEDER) program, “1. priority: creating a common space for knowledge and innovation.”
Coordinator: Udalbiltza Consortium.
Start of the project: March 10, 2026.
Duration: 3 years.
“The Plastigarbi project (EFA200/06) has been co-financed at 65% by the European Union through the Interreg VI-A Spain-France Andorra Program (POCTEFA 2021-2027). The objective of POCTEFA is to strengthen the economic and social integration of the border area between Spain, France and Andorra.”
