Background Wind energy is a clean and environmentally friendly source of electricity. Its expansion, however, is creating a growing waste disposal challenge: the decommissioning of wind turbine (WT) rotor blades. In the very near future when the first wind farms start to be dismantled or repowered, the question will be what to do with such complex waste streams. LIFE-BRIO aims to provide a sustainable, integral solution for this problem. While most parts of wind turbines (foundation, tower, drive train, generator or electronics) are made of materials and components (concrete, steel, iron, copper etc.) with well-known recovery routes, the WT rotor blades are made of complex structures and materials, and consequently the preparation of wastes and the recycling itself represents a challenge. Objectives The main objective of LIFE-BRIO project is to demonstrate from a life cycle perspective an innovative and sustainable methodology for end-of-life WT blades management and recycling. This scheme will allow valuable inorganic fibres and other materials to be recovered and reused as reinforcement in cement-based products and as cores in functionalised multilayer structures. An integral approach will be used, considering all the stages involved in the process: the rotor blades dismantling in the wind farm, the whole recycling process for material resources recovery, and their incorporation in new products. This alternative approach will avoid the adverse impact on the environment of incineration or disposal in landfills. Specific project aims are to: Demonstrate upgraded mechanical recycling processes guaranteeing an optimised recovery of fibres from the composite materials of the WT blades; Foster closed loop recycling by incorporating the recovered fibres into precast concrete elements such as manholes, containment systems and paving; Develop policy and legislative recommendations for the EU for management and recycling of end-of-life WT blades; Anticipate feasible solutions for the management of emerging complex waste streams; Set the basis for an economic and environmental procedure guaranteeing an upgraded recovery of fibres and other materials; Assess optimised reverse logistic schemes for the management of discarded WT blades into the Coal Clough windfarm decommissioning phase; Perform a Life-cycle assessment (LCA) of the whole process; Promote local networks associated with the reverse supply chain of WT blades; and Disseminate the project results to target groups. Expected results: An innovative end-of-life scheme (including guidelines) for WT rotor blades that reduces the environmental impact of obsolete blades; Recycling methodology that allows a recycling rate of rotor blades of more than 75% (by weight) of the materials: metals, inorganic fibres, polymers; Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by at least 6 000 kg CO2 equivalent per blade; and Around 800 kg of material reused during the project.