VLACO and the Research Station for Vegetable Production will work together on the residual stream of fruit vegetable foliage. In Flanders, this accounts for some 15,000 tons per year. This is a residual stream that is difficult to recycle due to the presence of non-biodegradable auxiliary materials (nylon ropes, clips, brackets, etc.). The use of biobased plastics or other degradable components such as viscose is a step in the right direction. However, compostability remains a challenge. In addition, these foliage residues become available in a short period of time in the fall.
Specifically, we want to examine how we can sustainably recycle this residual stream via composting. Initially, we will explore how we can work out the storage of these harvest residues. By trying to store them over a long period of time, they can be added to compost for longer. We are thinking of ensiling them, or wrapping them in bales.
In addition, demonstrate how biobased materials break down in the compost process and where improvements can be made. The greenhouse foliage will also be composted in smaller-scale farm composting. The end product of this will be used in our multi-year compost trial that has been running since 2006.
Closecycle is building on the initial results obtained in Cmartlfe from 2021-2023. For the residual streams released from the different fruiting vegetables, the findings were detailed in interesting fact sheets.
