Treewater's RECYCLO: Laundry Wastewater Recycling for Water Scarcity
TL;DR: The Life RECYCLO Project introduces a three-stage system for treating and recycling laundry wastewater, aiming to combat water scarcity and reduce operational costs for laundries.
- New system treats laundry wastewater for reuse.
- Targets small to medium-sized laundries.
- Reduces water bills by 30%.
- Removes over 90% of organic pollutants.
- Addresses micro- and nano-plastics.
- Scalable for various industrial applications.
Why it matters: Water scarcity is a growing global concern, and industries are major water consumers. This project offers a practical, replicable solution for businesses to drastically reduce their water footprint and achieve cost savings, contributing to ecological resilience.
Do this next: Explore the feasibility of implementing a three-stage wastewater treatment system in your own industrial or commercial operation.
Recommended for: Industrial laundry operators, sustainability managers, and policymakers interested in scalable wastewater recycling solutions.
The Life RECYCLO Project, launched in September 2021 by Treewater under the European Commission's LIFE programme, develops a treatment and recycling system for wastewater from laundries to address water scarcity exacerbated by global warming. It targets small and medium-sized laundries, aiming to reduce water bills by 30% and secure an eco-responsible label. Initial implementation occurred at Blanchisserie Saint-Jean in France, with plans to expand to Fundacio Mas Xirgu in Spain and Klin SARL in Luxembourg. The French site will serve as an in-situ laboratory to test processes against emerging pollutants like micro- and nano-plastics. The core technology involves a three-stage treatment: pre-treatment via coagulation-flocculation to aggregate particles, advanced oxidation to break down organic compounds, and final adsorption using activated carbon. Lab tests on effluents from all three laundries achieved over 90% removal of organic pollutants including DEHP, PBDE, and nonylphenols. Long-term goals include economic viability, regulatory compliance for micro-pollutants, and development of a mobile skid for testing in other industrial sectors. Challenges noted include installation containment, long-term recycling performance, and adaptation to specific compounds like salts. This project provides actionable insights for industrial water reuse, demonstrating scalable, lab-validated processes with real-world pilots that balance cost, efficiency, and environmental impact, offering practitioners a blueprint for similar wastewater recovery in water-stressed regions.