EARTH is an innovative example of applied research patented by Ev-K2-CNR and designed in collaboration with the private company Actelios / Falck. The EARTH system thermally treats waste with an extremely low emissions rate and is intended for use high mountain parks, where the waste produced by trekking and expedition groups, as well as that of the local populations, is difficult to dispose of without dire environmental impacts. The first EARTH prototype was developed and tested in 2006.
OBJECTIVES
Contribute to the protection of remote high altitude environments.
The specific objectives of the current phase of the EARTH project are:
- Improve the existing prototype and create a new machine able to generate energy, recuperating heat during waste disposal;
- Introduce the new prototype on the industrial market.
- Promote sustainable waste management, providing specific training for local populations where EARTH is installed.
The existing prototype has been designed for use in extreme environments, where the lack of oxygen and absence of electrical power make innovative technological solutions necessary. The actual system is modular, to facilitate transportation in rough terrain, even by porters (no single piece weighs more than approx. 20 kg).
After preliminary tests in laboratory, the system was tested in July 2006 on Plateau Rosà in Italy at 3,400 m a.s.l. Another prototype has been shipped to Pakistan where it will be installed in the framework of Karakorum Trust project and operated in conjunction with the CKNP clean-up campaigns already being carried out as soon as required authorization is issued.