Members of the ENVE commission visited the Lodzkie Region on 14-15 March to get acquainted with best practices in the area of the circular economy.
The delegation has visited various projects in the fields of environmental protection, waste management, bioeconomy, renewable energy and eco-innovation. These result from the cooperation between private businesses, applied science and research institutes, non-governmental organizations and the Lodzkie regional authority.
Marshal Witold Stępień (PL/EPP), member of the European Committee of the Regions since October 2011, was keen in organising a study visit in his homeland to present concrete projects created through public-private partnerships that bring both economic and environmental benefits to local communities.
“The Lodzkie Region illustrates how local governments can be change agents driving the shift towards circular economy models that lead to low-carbon communities”, said Witold Stępień (PL/EPP).
The Łódzkie Region is part of the European project “Synergic Circular Economy across European Regions” SCREEN . Its goal is to develop a reference framework for the establishment of synergies between Horizon 2020, EU’s research and innovation programme, and the European Structural and Investment Funds related to the circular economy.
The ENVE delegation includes members Bruno Hranić (HR/EPP) , Mayor of the Municipality of Vidovec in Croatia, Gillian Ford (UK/ EA), Member of the London Borough of Havering in the UK, Marco Dus (IT/PES), Member of Vittorio Veneto Municipal Council in the Italian Province of Treviso, Vytautas Vigelis (LT/ALDE), Member of the Municipal Council of Švenčionys district in Lithuania, Ribányi József (HU/EPP), Vice-Chairman of the Tolna County Assembly in Hungary, A ndres Jaadla (EE/ALDE), Member of Rakvere City Council in Estonia, Ioanis Sgouros (EL/PES), Regional Councilor of Attica in Greece, Mary Freehill (IE/PES), Member of the Dublin City Council in Ireland, Jaroslav Hlinka (SK/PES), Mayor of Kosice-South in Slovakia, Giuseppe Rinaldi (IT/PES), President of the Italian Province of Rieti, Vytautas Kanevičius (LT/ECR), Member of the Council of Kazlų Rūda Municipality in Lithuania and Raymund Kovács (HU/EPP), Budapest XVI. District Representative.
These are the projects visited by the ENVE delegation:
Centre for Innovation and Technology Transfer, Medical University of Łódź: coordination between science and businesses for economic development in medicine and health. The Centre incubates new business ventures while providing administrative support at all stages of commercialization. Areas: oncology, neurology, neurodegenerative diseases, biomolecular sciences, cardiology, diabetes, allergy and immunology.
GREEN HUB: a non-formal initiative in zero waste and health. Green Hub is an initiative of local and regional NGOs, business, and researchers towards the circular economy.
Town of Brzeziny: implements a €5 million project on the production of clean electricity and heat, photovoltaic and solar collectors, wind farms and the creation of a transport system based on electric cars.
STEIG Sp. z o.o. – producer of BOXlife Polish Modular Houses: not for profit social enterprise, leader in the production of residential and service modules operating under social objectives, human rights, environmental, work and employment best practices integrating socially marginalized citizens.
Waste Management and Recycling Cluster: formed by businesses, research and development units, support institutions and consulting companies dedicated to environmental education. Collection, disposal, processing, recycling and transport of all types of industrial waste. Specialised in used electrical and electronic equipment.The cluster is supraregional and its impact goeas beyond Lodzkie to include Wielkopolskie, Lubelskie, Lubuskie, , Malopolska, Masovia, Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Silesia, Świętokrzyskie and Zachodniopomorskie.
O-PAL RECYKLING: purchase, collection, recovery, processing and recycling of all types of waste.
STAL-CAR: Stal-Car is two licensed and authorised scarp yards operated since 2006. The company is in the forefront of the biggest automotive spare parts dealers in Poland.
The next study visit of the ENVE commission will take place in Nijmegen in April. Nijmegen has a lot to share when it comes to environmental and climate-friendly cities as it is the European Green Capital 2018.
Contact:
David Crous
+32 (0) 470 88 10 37
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