On Thursday, October 2nd, 2025, CIRC’s Biovergister was officially opened on the campus of Utrecht University of Applied Sciences (HU), located in the heart of Utrecht Science Park. This installation converts vegetable, fruit, and food waste (organic waste) into biogas and demonstrates how sustainable innovations can be directly applied in practice.

The Biovergister is the first innovation to undergo a long-term test in collaboration with Utrecht University of Applied Sciences and Innofest. Until December 15, we will jointly explore which messages best encourage students, teachers, and staff to properly separate their organic waste.

The Innofest testing program consists of several phases, examining how context, language, and design influence waste separation behavior. Before and after each phase, Hermen Bollemaat (Senior Lecturer in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, HU) and his team conduct measurements to determine the effect of communication on the purity of the collected waste. In this way, we aim to discover how behavior and communication together can contribute to a more circular and sustainable campus.

This collaboration between CIRC, Utrecht University of Applied Sciences, Gemeente Utrecht, and Innofest demonstrates how research, education, and innovation can reinforce one another to make sustainable solutions truly work in practice.

From waste stream to learn stream

The Biovergister’s system monitors organic waste streams for acidity and liquidity. The main reactor, containing bacteria supported by AI, ensures a stable digestion process with high biogas yields. The biogas is purified, stored, and later used as an energy source. The machine primarily functions as a learning environment where students and researchers collaborate on real-world sustainability challenges.

During last year’s Utrecht Science Week, CIRC introduced the Biovergister on campus and began research into waste separation and behavior. Now, a long-term test follows in collaboration with Innofest, officially unveiled during the Applied Science R&D Congress. For University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, this marks a tangible step toward the goal of becoming fully energy neutral by 2030.

Why test?

An innovation only has value when people actually act on it in practice. That’s why we are studying how students, lecturers, and staff at Utrecht University of Applied Sciences separate their waste — and what helps them do it better.

We’re exploring:

• How to best organize the collection of organic waste on a busy campus
• What motivates people to separate their waste properly
• And how text, imagery, and symbols on waste bins influence that behavior

This helps us learn which communication and design strategies lead to more sustainable behavior and a circular campus where waste truly gains value.

Longterm testing

In various phases of the long-term testing program, Innofest and Hermen jointly explore which forms of communication lead to the cleanest collection of organic waste. By taking measurements before and after the waste bins, the impact of the applied signage becomes visible. The results, insights, and feedback from each phase are directly applied to the next stage of the research.

The central hypothesis: the more visible the Biovergister, the greater the motivation to separate waste properly.

Phase 1: Raising awareness

We started by increasing the visibility and understanding of the installation. Eight organic waste bins were placed next to residual waste bins, featuring striking signage with the thought-provoking question: “Are you turning waste into biogas?” Each bin is marked with two clear arrows, and the front of the organic bins visually explains the Biovergister’s process — from banana peel to biogas. In addition, a game element was added as a quiz that shows what does and doesn’t belong in organic waste, including an explanation of how the Biovergister works.

Initial results:

• 8 kg of organic waste collected
• Purity: 93–94%

“This is a very promising start,” says Hermen Bollemaat. “We still see room for improvement in communication, but also notice that more organic waste is being collected thanks to the signage above the bins, compared to before.”

The first results show that clear communication about the goal — the proper separation of organic waste — is already an important step toward better waste sorting. At the same time, some other waste still ends up in the organic waste bins due to a lack of knowledge. This forms a valuable basis for phase two, in which communication about what does and doesn’t belong in organic waste will be further refined.

Innofest methodology

Innofest structures and guides the testing process. With our approach, we make visible:

• Which assumptions hold up in practice — and which do not.
• Which improvements are needed to communicate the organic waste separation process clearly and effectively.

This way, the program provides valuable insights not only for Utrecht University of Applied Sciences, but also for innovators, partners, and educational institutions working on circular solutions in practice.

Een gezamenlijke ambitie

Through the commitment of partners and Innofest’s testing expertise, a shared ambition for a circular society becomes tangible:

• CIRC – innovator behind the development of the Biovergister.
• HU Research Group Innovative Testing in Life Sciences & Chemistry – involved in broadening and optimizing the process.
• Gemeente Utrecht, Province of Utrecht, and ROM Utrecht – collaboration partners making this test possible.

This case page will regularly updated throughout the program with new insights and results.
Want to learn more or schedule an interview with our test expert or the innovator? Email Community Lead Neeltje at oc.ts1776260276efonn1776260276i@ejt1776260276leen1776260276