A group of UIB students who won the first Circular Innovation Hackathon organized by the Impulsa Balears Foundation presented at TIRME their project '(Eco)design of a waste management system of the future to turn the Balearic Islands into benchmarks in circularity' 

The team formed by five students of the degree in Chemistry of the Faculty of Sciences of the UIB won in a competition in which 200 university students from all over Spain took part divided into 25 teams. Of the eight challenges posed by companies from the Balearic Islands, TIRME's was to anticipate future needs and outline innovative solutions capable of accelerating the circular transition of the islands. 

In a context of climate, energy and materials crisis, young people presented real solutions through technological innovation for the production of sustainable materials from waste generated in the Balearic Islands. The model presented is based on inter-island collaboration for a better use of infrastructures, which would also allow the development of a business fabric that promotes the circular economy. 

The students pointed out possible technologies to recover elements such as phosphorus, aluminum or zinc, future solutions for the decarbonization of the plant through the capture of CO2, or the use of end-of-life tires to obtain construction materials, as is being implemented in leading countries in environmental matters such as Japan or New Zealand. 

After their presentation, the team had the opportunity to visit all the facilities of the Environmental Technologies Park, including the energy recovery plant, which are part of the public service managed by TIRME and owned by the Consell de Mallorca. 

The Circular innovation Hackathon has been a great opportunity to connect young talent with companies when listening to disruptive proposals that promote the circular economy.