Eco-innovation

The use of plants to remove, contain, or degrade environmental contaminants in water, in soil or air is known as phytoremediation. The Briter-Water project harnessed the way in which bamboo roots function, to purify wastewater. The root system, and its associated microorganisms, exudates numerous chemical compounds into the soil which are able to degrade organic pollutants.
The Bambou-Assainissement® filter has been up and running since September 2010. Covering less than 3 hectares, the system is designed to remediate up to 2 000 m3 of food-industry grey water per day by breaking down nitrogenous compounds and phosphates of effluents by over 99%.

http://www.phytorem.com/Qui-sommes-nous/Phytorem-a-l-international/BRITER-WATER

Even though baking new bricks is very resource and energy intensive, many are either sent to landfill or crushed and recycled. The Rebrick project has developed and demonstrated a technology that separates out used bricks using an automated sorting process for demolition waste.
The project sets up a full-scale brick cleaning facility and intends to replicate the technology in other countries. It is also developing public/private partnerships within the demolition and construction sectors.
Rebrick will lead to an annual reduction of waste amounting to 24 000 tonnes in the second year after the project ends. The first plant in Denmark will contribute to a reduction of 6 000 tonnes of CO by the second year after the project ends.

http://www.gamlemursten.dk/uk

Cathode ray televisions (CRTs) are now being thrown out across the EU as newer technologies render them obsolete. But they contain dangerous material, including lead and phosphor, which means they need specific treatment at the end of their lifecycles.
This initiative recovered CRT glass from recycling plants and used it as a raw material for the production of high quality ceramic tiles that are compliant with the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification system and Ecolabel certified.
The work has already produced more than 600 000 m² of ceramic tiles in three years, helping to reduce the amount of CRTs sent to landfill by about 3 000 tonnes.

http://www.glassplus.eu/