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“Bioplastics could transform waste, but their role is unknown.”

As bioplastics become more widespread, researchers like Dr. Beata Szatkowska at Aquateam COWI are exploring how these materials behave in waste-to-energy processes. We spoke with Dr. Szatkowska to learn about her work on the Digest-Plast project, presented earlier this year at an anaerobic digestion conference, which seeks to address key questions about their impact on biogas production.

“The use of bioplastics is growing rapidly. While they’re often seen as a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics, we still need a clearer picture of how they break down in anaerobic digestion,” Dr. Szatkowska explains. Her research focuses on whether biodegradable plastics in municipal solid waste improve or disrupt biogas production. Since these materials often end up in organic waste streams, their impact on energy recovery is critical to understand.

“Bioplastics hold a lot of promise, but if we don’t understand how they behave during digestion, we can’t fully integrate them into efficient waste-to-resource systems”

Dr. Szatkowska’s team relied on the Automatic Methane Potential Test System (AMPTS) from BPC Instruments AB to monitor methane production. “This instrument allowed us to track methane levels with precision, which was key for evaluating how different bioplastics perform in anaerobic systems,” she says. By analysing this data, her team was able to measure the contribution of bioplastics to biogas yields and assess their compatibility with anaerobic digestion processes.

Image: Beata Szatkowska with team using BPC Instruments flagship product AMPTS II

This research has broader implications for waste management. “Bioplastics hold a lot of promise, but if we don’t understand how they behave during digestion, we can’t fully integrate them into efficient waste-to-resource systems,” Dr. Szatkowska notes. Her findings aim to inform operational practices and policies as the shift towards biodegradable plastics gains traction.

With over 13 years of experience using AMPTS, Dr. Szatkowska values how the technology has supported her work, but she stresses that collaboration is just as important. “Projects like Digest-Plast are about more than just data—they’re about filling knowledge gaps and finding real-world solutions that work for both people and the environment,” she shares.

Looking ahead, Dr. Szatkowska is optimistic about the potential of bioplastics in anaerobic digestion but acknowledges that there’s still work to do. “Bioplastics are one piece of a larger puzzle,” she reflects. “Our goal as researchers is to make sure they can fit seamlessly into waste-to-energy systems and help create processes that are sustainable and practical.”


About Aquateam COWI and Dr. Beata Szatkowska

Dr. Beata Szatkowska is a project manager at Aquateam COWI, specialising in sewage sludge and organic waste management in Poland. Aquateam COWI is a research institute dedicated to advancing sustainable practices in the water and environmental sector.