Nonprofit enterprise InCommOn – Innovative Communities Onwards recently expanded its activities in Greece. Profitability in the said segment is still a long way away in general. However, InCommOn’s representative Valia Zourna stressed the model needs to become sustainable even if there is no net income.
Seventy cafés in Thessaloniki and Kilkis collect the coffee residue in plastic boxes that they get. The material is transported by an electric van to the Kilkis regional unit, where it is dried naturally. Then it is turned into pellets of a high calorific value for heating purposes in households and incineration in biomass-fueled boilers. An algorithm determines the optimal route for the van. The pilot project began last year in Kilkis. InCommOn plans to add all chains that serve coffee so that no spent coffee grounds end up in landfills.
The organic waste harms the environment if it is disposed of in bulk, as it contains caffeine, tannins, and chlorogenic acid. Rich in nitrogen, it is a useful fertilizer for flowers, mushrooms, and vegetables. It prevents fungal infections and molds from forming and repels insects and snails. The pulverized remains can be composted with other food waste.
Source: Balkan Green Energy News
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