What is the circular bio-economy on Samsø?
The circular economy involves aligning actions, yet in order to act, the entire community needs access to knowledge that allows us to make decisions about technologies and economic investments that are crucial to the circular mindset.

At Samsø Energy Academy, we want to take responsibility for the circular economy by showing the way forward and inspire other communities, thereby supporting increased opportunities for recycling resources.

Our initial steps in working with the circular economy
On Samsø, our focus is on agricultural production, and there is a desire to ensure the long-term fertility of the land so the island can continue to produce healthy crops and ensure more jobs throughout the entire value chain, from the fields to the dinner plate.

Samsø needs to focus on (clean) water as the basis of life and the motor driving the entire food chain.

Right now, we are identifying sources of everyday waste that potentially can be recycled. This includes food waste, garden waste, and all consumer goods which, when they “die,” can be disassembled into building blocks and thereby become resources for other products.

Knowledge
Increasing the general knowledge of local residents in order that they can be active and participate in decisions is crucial in relation to the master plan. This means that island residents need to be informed via newspaper articles and themed meetings across the island. We will also research the decisive ways to communicate about the circular economy, both as proponents and as opponents.

Agriculture
Nutrients need to be recycled. There shouldn’t be a linear loss of nutrients. We need carbon in the soil so it builds up nutrients over the long term. In terms of agriculture, a planned biogas facility will be fed with organic material and produce methane for the ferry Isabella to Jutland. Through this process, sustainable fertilizer will provide carbon for the soil and nutrients from sources that would otherwise end up in the garbage dump. We are investigating how and which strategies are necessary in order to bind more CO2 from the ambient air, which will promote crop growth and future food production.

Water
The Island of Samsø pumps approximately 2.8 million tons of filtered waste water annually into the sea. This waste water is filled with nutrients that can be recycled for other purposes instead of being led into the sea. The water should be recycled for agriculture.

Recycling things
Garbage should be recycled, and we should ensure that the least possible amount of waste be thrown out. Garbage can in many ways support our daily lives, for instance by using it in the biogas facility.

How much of small combustibles can we disassemble so they can be reused in the circle? What about plastics? We need to be aware that it is ourselves who are responsible for what we throw into the garbage bin. We need to embrace the circular mindset at home, and educate tourists to do the same.

We need to disassemble things into their pure parts so they can be reused in the circle. There are jobs, new commons, and new things in everything that can be recycled.