• The BIOFORIN project exemplifies the potential of bioenergy with a pioneering commitment to converting forest biomass to energy and transforming the energy and production model from within the territory

The 8th edition of Recuwaste, the leading conference for professionals in waste and resource management and treatment, held on 20 and 21 May 2025 at the TecnoCampus in Mataró, placed the bioeconomy and bioenergy at the centre of the debate on energy transition, sustainable resource management and the decarbonisation of industry. Under the slogan “Waste, circular economy and energy transition: trilemma or virtuous circle?”, the conference brought together several presentations and transformative projects that served to reaffirm the strategic role of biocircularity in the transformation of the production model, which is heading towards a necessary paradigm shift.

Vanessa Abad during the presentation of the BIOFORIN project at the 8th edition of Recuwaste / Marga Cruz

In this regard, the programme included the presentation “Contribution of biocircularity to the objectives of energy transition, decarbonisation and industrial competitiveness” by the president of the Bioenergy Cluster of Catalonia, Vanessa Abad, who explored the role of bioenergy as a key vector for achieving the objectives of the energy transition. Abad explained how the bioeconomy can contribute to decarbonisation, efficient management of natural resources and energy sovereignty, with solutions adapted to the territory and the productive environment.

In this context, Abad presented the BIOFORIN project, which brings together the entire forest management value chain with the aim of improving the recovery of available biomass and generating products with high added value. BIOFORIN, which has the collaboration of six entities – the Bioenergy Cluster of Catalonia, the Eurecat Technology Centre, the Catalan Federation of Forest Owners’ Associations (BOSCAT), the Association of Owners of Montnegre and Corredor, the Vallès Oriental Waste Consortium and, finally, Maresme Circular, the brand of the Maresme Waste Consortium – represents a pioneering model of sustainable forest management, capable of reducing the risk of fires, protecting biodiversity and generating economic and energy value at the local level. The project is being developed thanks to the support of the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge (MITECO) within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, financed by the European Union – Next Generation.

The 8th edition of Recuwaste also featured other presentations related to the bioeconomy, such as that by Alberto Hernández from Bianna Recycling on the recovery of organic matter from the residual fraction, and that by Inés Melchor, manager of Enagás’ GdO Renewable Gas System, on renewable gases and guarantees of origin.

Exhibition of the finalist posters for the Alfonso Maíllo 2025 Award / Marga Cruz

At the same time, several posters related to the bioeconomy were presented as part of the Alfonso Maíllo Award, which recognises the best innovative solution in the field of waste management. Among the stand-out finalist projects were “Urbaneta”, a project by Espigoladors that promotes the use of urban fruit considered waste to transform it into food for social entities; “Life Infusion”, led by the AMB (Barcelona Metropolitan Area), which applies circular economy technologies to recover biogas, nutrients and reclaimed water from urban waste effluents; ‘Green Banana’, an innovative proposal to reuse banana cultivation waste in the Canary Islands and transform it into renewable resources; and finally, the project voted for by the attendees, “Santa Rosa Urban Oranges”, by the Mollet del Vallès City Council, which recovers bitter oranges from public trees to make marmalade for food banks.

With these initiatives, Recuwaste reaffirms its commitment to a more circular, decentralised economy rooted in the territory, where the bioeconomy is consolidating its position as one of the main avenues of transformation towards a sustainable future.

Recuwaste is organised by Maresme Circular, the brand of the Maresme Waste Consortium, and is supported by the Catalan Waste Agency and the collaboration of the Barcelona Provincial Council, the Catalan Government and other entities such as the Environmental Forum Foundation.