Balt-Plast-Free
ongoing
Balt-Plast-Free
Microplastics (MPs) pollution from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) poses a growing environmental threat to the Baltic Sea, especially as current emissions from Finnish and Estonian WWTPs remain largely unmeasured. The Balt-Plast-Free project addresses this issue by developing harmonized protocols to monitor MPs emissions, developing analytics, and testing innovative technical solutions to reduce them. Through cross-border collaboration, the project will implement pilot filtration systems in WWTPs in Mikkeli and Elva, train staff, and raise public awareness using a mobile laboratory. The main goal is to reduce MPs emissions from urban wastewater sources and prepare WWTPs for upcoming EU regulations, contributing to a cleaner Baltic Sea ecosystem.
Expected results
The Balt-Plast-Free project will implement pilot filtration systems in wastewater treatment plants in Mikkeli and Elva to reduce microplastics emissions from influent and sludge reject water. To ensure consistent and reliable monitoring across borders, the project will establish harmonized protocols for sampling and analysis. Staff training and public outreach through a mobile laboratory will support effective implementation and raise awareness. These actions are expected to reduce MPs emissions by up to 95% and offer scalable solutions for other WWTPs in the Baltic Sea region. The cross-border collaboration will strengthen regional preparedness for future EU regulations and contribute to long-term protection of the Baltic Sea ecosystem.
Expected results
The Balt-Plast-Free project will implement pilot filtration systems in wastewater treatment plants in Mikkeli and Elva to reduce microplastics emissions from influent and sludge reject water. To ensure consistent and reliable monitoring across borders, the project will establish harmonized protocols for sampling and analysis. Staff training and public outreach through a mobile laboratory will support effective implementation and raise awareness. These actions are expected to reduce MPs emissions by up to 95% and offer scalable solutions for other WWTPs in the Baltic Sea region. The cross-border collaboration will strengthen regional preparedness for future EU regulations and contribute to long-term protection of the Baltic Sea ecosystem.
Duration 01.08.2025 - 31.07.2028
Total budget
Programme priority
Improved environment and resource useProgramme objective
PO4 - Improved coastal and marine environmentLead partner
Mikkeli Development Miksei Ltd.
Project Events
Gallery
Managing Authority
Joint Secretariat
c/o Regional Council
of Southwest Finland
Visiting address: Linnankatu 52 B, Turku, Finland
Mailing address:
P.O. Box 273,
20101 Turku, Finland
E-mail: info@centralbaltic.eu
Phone: +358 40 550 8408
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