EU Space: A key enabler of a zero-waste future

When it comes to waste management, the European Union is a global leader. Not only does the continent boast some of the world’s highest recycling rates, but as reported by OECD the amount of waste also going to the landfill has fallen substantially over the past couple of decades.

Yet despite these achievements, Europe still produces a lot of garbage. In fact, in 2022, the EU generated 795 million tonnes of waste (excluding major mineral waste). That’s 1.8 tonnes per inhabitant!

Helping to clean up this mess is EU Space!

GNSS enables more effective waste management

The road to zero-waste begins with effective waste management – and for that, there’s GNSS.

Waste management companies are using GNSS to make their waste management strategies more effective. For example, leveraging the positioning accuracy of Galileo, companies can track the location of waste bins and containers and implement optimised collection schedules and more fuel-efficient routes.

GNSS doesn’t just provide location information, it also delivers data – data that contains important insights about waste generation patterns. Waste management companies can use this data to help predict when a bin will reach capacity, while decisionmakers can leverage the data to inform waste management policies and strategies.

Philippines looks towards Galileo HAS to help clean up its e-waste problem

GNSS can also play a role in tracking e-waste, the vast amount of discarded electronic devices and equipment that is increasing at an alarming rate. According to the UN Global E-Waste Monitoring Report, electronic waste generated worldwide will exceed 74 million tonnes by 2030.

In the Philippines, innovative entrepreneurs look to use GNSS to help the country tackle its e-waste problem. For instance, E-wasto hopes to build a platform that will allow users to give their unwanted electronics to identified e-waste collectors or locate the nearest e-waste disposal site.

The reverse logistics system uses GNSS to determine the precise location of a user via their devices and where the system is installed. Using this location, E-Wasto selects the best possible site to minimise the costs of disposal. The initiative believes that by making disposal convenient and local, it can help reduce the amount of e-waste going to the landfill.

With nearly 3 billion smartphones already supporting European GNSS, using Galileo as E-Wasto’s prime GNSS was a no-brainer. The project says it intends to make use of the Galileo HAS and, eventually, the Galileo Open Service Navigation Message Authentication (OSNMA) .

Earth Observation for better landfill monitoring

Another important solution in Europe’s waste management toolbox is Earth Observation, which can be used to detect illegal disposal sites, inspect and monitor landfill operations, and assess suitable locations for new landfills.

For instance, governments can depend on the Copernicus SESA (Support to EU External and Security Actions) to help investigate landfills. Specifically, they can use Earth Observation data to monitor the types of waste accumulated at a specific location, identify incidences of suspected illegal activity, and verify the site’s compliance with local regulations.

Earth Observation data can also be used help landfills shrink their carbon footprints. “Although it is well known that greenhouse gases have a negative impact on human health, their quantification – especially when they are produced by landfills – is often overlooked”, said Valentina Manganozzi, a representative of the ARTEMIS project.

The AI4Copernicus supported project is using artificial intelligence to analyse such complex data as Sentinel-5 and Sentinel-2 images, along with data collected from ground-based air quality monitoring stations. The goal is to provide daily monitoring of GHG concentrations in the areas surrounding landfills, with a spatial resolution of less than 1km2. Community leaders and landfill managers can then use this information to implement more sustainable waste management processes.

Cassini Winners, Coastal Marine Litter Observatory by SCIDRONES integrates Copernicus multi-spectral imagery with drone data and AI to distinguish plastic waste from natural debris, enabling local authorities to optimise cleanup efforts. Meanwhile, Ocean Plastic Alert and Tracking by GEOMATYS combines satellite observations with oceanographic models to forecast the movement of marine debris, aiding authorities in both post-crisis response and proactive waste collection.

From zero waste to zero space

Beyond its role in enabling a zero-waste future, EU Space is also helping Europe achieve a Net Zero Space.

The Net Zero Space initiative calls for a global commitment to achieving the sustainable use of outer space for the benefit of all humankind by 2030. It also recommends urgent action to contain and reduce the pollution of Earth’s orbital environment by avoiding further generation of space debris and remediating existing debris.

According to the Net Zero Space website, there is currently over 130 million pieces of debris floating through the Earth's orbits. Of these, at least 36,500 are greater than 10 cm. At the speed at which these objects move through orbits, the damage they can cause is incalculable.

Mitigating this risk is EU Space Surveillance and Tracking (EU SST).

A sub-component of the EU Space Programme, EU SST mitigates the risk of a collision between space assets and other spacecraft and debris, and monitors and analyses in-orbit fragmentations and uncontrolled re-entries of space objects.

The programme became a founding member of Net Zero Space, signing the declaration back in 2021. According to an EU SST press release, endorsing the initiative underlines the programme’s commitment to ensuring safe space operations and long-term sustainability of space activities.

EUSPA is responsible for the EU SST Front Desk, which serves as the programme’s main interface for delivering SST information and services to its users.

Do you have a concept, prototype or product that uses EU Space data and services to enable a zero-waste future?

Check out how EUSPA can help turn your innovative idea into a space-based success story!

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