Supporting circular economy opportunities for employment and social inclusion

The SIRCLES project (Supporting Circular Economy Opportunities for Employment and Social Inclusion), funded by the ENI CBC MED program with a €3.8 million budget, aims to integrate circular economy principles with social inclusion efforts across seven Mediterranean countries: Spain, Greece, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, Tunisia, and Italy. Led by the Waste Agency of Catalonia, its primary mission is to support socially excluded individuals by offering them job opportunities and training in organic waste management.

Central to the project are the pilot composting facilities established in these countries, which serve both as practical sites for organic waste processing and as success stories highlighting the project's impact on local communities, especially on women and NEETs (Not in Education, Employment, or Training). Informative leaflets created by the project partners detail the operational processes of these facilities and their positive community impacts.

A key achievement is the community composting area developed in Bizerte, Tunisia, by the Tunisia Ecotourism Company with European funds. This initiative not only advances the circular economy but also promotes social inclusion by generating jobs and training opportunities in waste management. Approximately 120 individuals have been trained in waste sorting and composting, with efforts focusing on sourcing biowaste from local businesses and partnering with municipalities for efficient waste collection.

The project emphasizes educational outreach, with a composting pilot site established as a hub for training and raising awareness about composting and sustainable practices. This hands-on approach, coupled with bio-agriculture practices using the produced compost, exemplifies the project's commitment to environmental sustainability, social inclusion, and economic development through the principles of the circular economy.