Sustainable management of coastal organic waste: A pilot study on beach wrack treatment in reed bed system

Beach wrack (BW), a natural accumulation of marine organic material on coastal shorelines, presents significant management challenges due to its high water content and nutrient-rich composition.This study investigates the use of a reed bed system (RBS) for processing BW and its mixture with compost.A pilot facility was established to evaluate dewatering efficiency, stabilization processes, and changes in key parameters such as dry matter, organic matter, nitrogen, and phosphorus content.The results indicate that RBS effectively increase the dry matter content.In case of stabilization of organic matter further studies are necessary.Quarters supplied with a mixture of BW and compost demonstrated enhanced nutrient concentration compared to those fed with BW only.The findings underscore the potential of RBS as a sustainable solution for managing BW, fitting with circular economy principles by transforming waste into valuable resources.