OVAM

What is ELFM?

The demand for raw materials and energy sources is high and still rising. Using them efficiently is essential to meet this demand in the future, too. Keeping materials in the cycle or even reusing materials that were temporarily absent from the materials cycle is therefore a major challenge to entrepreneurs, consumers and policy makers.

Finished or unfinished landfill sites form a possible new source of materials or energy. These are exploited through Enhanced Landfill Mining (ELFM). Enhanced Landfill Mining (ELFM) is a concept that performs the valorisation of materials and energy from landfill sites as sustainably as possible through a maximisation of materials recycling and optimal energy production.

The ELFM concept aims at a sustainable use of landfill sites whereby four basic targets are set: determining the needs for materials, energy, space and drinking water. This can be formulated as R³P: Recycling of Materials, Recovery of Energy, Reclaiming of Land, and Preserving Drinking Water Supplies.