eWAsTER project led by PACT promotes recovery of electronic waste in the Mediterranean

The eWAsTER project, led by PACT – Parque do Alentejo de Ciência e Tecnologia, aims to find solutions that do not present electronic waste as a source of environmental damage, but rather as an opportunity to create an innovative sustainable economy through the valorization of this waste.

The objective is to promote local and regional policies for better management of electronic waste, reduce environmental damage caused by this waste in selected areas and, at the same time, promote innovative business models based on the conversion of the electrical and electronic (E&E) sector, currently linear , in a sustainable circular model.

Explains eWAsTER project manager, Ricardo Sobral, in statements to Rádio Campanário, that “PACT is Portugal’s only partner, then we are working with 10 more entities spread across the Mediterranean area, from eight different countries, including Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Greece, Bulgaria and Slovenia”, in addition to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“We are very lucky to be working with entities that are already very experienced in international cooperation and we can count on their help and the experience that they all already have in waste management. This is working towards creating a unified methodology for the entire Mediterranean area for the management of electronic waste”, added the person responsible to Rádio Campanário, today, April 29th, during the inauguration of the new PACT Immersive Rooms — Gaming inPACT — , in Évora.

On the other hand, Ricardo Sobral added that everything “will involve understanding the behavioral part between citizens, schools and governments and also including company policy and creating new sustainable business models around waste management, prevention and treatment. electronics”.

The eWAsTER project has an eligible cost of 2.047 million euros, 80% financed by the European Union, through Interreg Euro-Med, with PACT making an investment of 326,800 euros. The project started on January 1, 2024 and will continue until June 30, 2026.

However, Ricardo Sobral highlights that “in this first preparatory phase, we expect to have the local action plans and the methodology for the unified Mediterranean area, with all partners, ready by the middle of next year, 2025”.

Interview by Augusta Serrano; Text by Carlos Caldeira