From today on Acea Group is a protagonist at Ecomondo 2024, the main fair dedicated to the green and circular economy of the Mediterranean scheduled in Rimini from 5 to 8 November. The Group's participation in this annual event highlights the multi-utility's commitment to sustainable management of resources and the development of eco-compatible infrastructures. Acea, a national player in the water sector with over 10 million inhabitants served, also stands out in the environmental sector, where it manages approximately 1,8 million tons of waste per year.
Acea will present at Ecomondo projects related to the regeneration of plastic materials, to the recovery of organic matrices and to the reuse of water and sandy waste from purification. The talks, hosted at the stand at Pavilion D3, will see the participation of experts, academics and managers. Furthermore, Francis Buresti, head of Acea's Water Business Unit, will speak at the plenary session of the Green Economy General States to discuss the challenges of the water sector.
Water as a resource: the agricultural irrigation project
One of the central projects presented by Acea concerns the reuse of waste water for agricultural irrigation. In collaboration with Acea Ato 2, responsible for the water service in Rome and central Lazio, and thanks to a PNRR financing of approximately 6 million euros, Acea has made it possible to recover purified water fromFregene irrigation system in the Maccarese Plain. The project was developed together with the Consorzio di Bonifica Litorale Nord and with the support of academic institutions such as the Polytechnic University of Marche and the University of Bologna, to ensure sustainable management of local water resources.
The “Soil Washing” project for sandy waste
Still in the water sector, Acea presented the “Soil Washing” project for the sand treatment coming from the purification plants. This new plant, which will be operational by the end of the year thanks to an investment of 6,5 million euros, allows recover over 65% of the solid material, transforming washed sand and gravel into reusable materials for road maintenance and water supply systems.
A sustainable asphalt for Turin
Another innovative experiment by Acea concerns the creating sustainable asphalt for the city of Torino, the result of a Memorandum of Understanding between Acea Ambiente, the Polytechnic of Turin, the Metropolitan City of Turin and the Brillada company. The objective is transform recycled polymers produced by the Group's plants (in particular those of the MEG company) in additives for the creation of durable and safe asphalts. The project, which involves the use of bituminous conglomerates derived from recycled plastics, aims to reduce environmental impact of the road surface, while increasing the safety and quality of Turin's road surface.
The Role of Compost in Agriculture
During panel dedicated to sustainable agriculture, Acea will present the results of its collaboration Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences (Dibaf) of the University of Tuscia. The partnership, aimed at promoting theuse of compost in crops, has shown how compost, a natural soil improver derived from the recovery of organic matrices, can increase productivity of crops such as wheat, broccoli and potato. The aim is improve fertility of the soil by reducing the use of chemical fertilizers, with benefits both for the environment and for the quality of agricultural products.
Acea on social media for Ecomondo 2024
For the duration of #Ecomondo2024, Acea offers visitors and interested parties a wide coverage of its initiatives through social media. On the Group's LinkedIn, Facebook, X, YouTube and Instagram profiles, you can follow real-time updates, with videos, interviews and exclusive content that tell the news and innovations presented at the fair.
To further explore the projects presented and not to miss the next events, you can visit the Acea official page on Ecomondo where information on all the panels and round tables organised is available.
