Josef Barth, European Compost Network ECN

1. Josef Barth, European Compost Network ECN Biowaste in the Context of EU Legislation- The Need and Approaches for Realisation

2. Separate Collection Anaerobic Digestion Mech.Biol. Treatm.  Sustainable solutions for the organic residues stream Quality & Markets Composting About the European Compost Network ECN Circulation ofInformation Exchange of Experience CommonStrategies Exchange of Knowledge EuropeanStandards European Reference Pointon

3. Raw Material Potentialand Treatment

4. With separate collectioncomposting/digestion In implementation In preparation only few actions • Potential of organic waste in EU27:115 M tonnes / year • Recycling in 2008: • 15 M tonnes biowaste11 M tonnes green waste4.5 M tonnes digested = 15 M tonnes compost UK 220 sites3 M tonnes DE800 sites10 M tonnes +4500 sitesfor digestion NL 70 sites3,2 M t. Italy3,5 M tonnes240 sites Only 1/4 of the potential - still a long way to go Austria 300 compost + 400 AD sites - 1,3 M tonnes

5. Organics Recycling by Composting in Europe (2009) Degradation of separatelycollected organic wastes of housholds, gardens,parks and commerce • Ca. 2000 sites of which 40 % treat only green waste • Annual capacity -> 22 Mio. t • Additionally around 800 small agricultural co-composting plants mainly in Germany and Austria • Large potential for agricultural composting in accession countries and Austria, Scandinavia, Ireland, Spain and Portugal • Target: Manufacturing of a PRODUCT for fertilisation, soil improvement and humus management.

6. Green/Garden Waste Composting • Greenwaste composting in open windrows is state of the art in all European countries with very differing approaches from 200 t/y small scale up to 70.000 t/y high specialised composting companies producing high price growing media, potting soils with peat replacement • It is the main composting type for source separated organics in Finland, Denmark, UK, Irland and France • Examples of treatment capacities: - 3,0 mio t Germany - 1,7 mio t Netherlands, - 1,0 mio t France - 0,4 mio t in Sweden and - 0,4 mio t in Belgium (Flanders)

7. Energy and Compost in Combination • 3 grain sizes in one screening • to separate the wooden part • as biomass for energy • Partial stream digestion or enlargementof existing compost plants with adigestion step

8. Status Anaerobic Digestion of OrganicResidues & Feedstocks in EU (2009) • Target: Production of biofuels (Sweden, Switzerland), renewable energy and and organic fertilisers. • 100 large AD sites with 4,5 million tons capacity for organic waste - post composting recommanded • Additionally 5000 agricultural digestion and co-digestion sites (mainly Germany, Austria) for organic waste, agricultural residues and energy crops)

9. Use of Biogas/Biomethane • 80 % in Europe in decentral combined heat and power CHP units with anincreasing external use of the heat. • Power generated is mostly sold to public grid as "green energy" • < 20 % biogas upgrading to biomethane mainly Sweden and Switzerland and Austria) as fuel replacing fossil natural gas.

10. Status of MBT and MSW Composting/AD (2009) • -> Treatment of residual waste without or afterseparate collection by composting or digestion mostly to stabilise it before landfilling • 280 plants - 18 million t/year = ? 3 million t compostmainly in Italy, Germany, Austria (France, Spain) • Target: Production of organicmaterial (WASTE!) which can be used in restricted areas (= Mixed Waste Compost MSWC) or with very low organic matter content which is suitable for landfilling(= Stabilised Biowaste SBW or SOF or CLO) Composting Anaerobic Digestion

11. Use of recycled organics on soils in EU Organics in residual waste Mixed municipalsolid waste Sep. collectedOrganics Biological Treatment - Composting or Digestion Stabilisedorganics Waste compost Product for the market Restricted application Controlledapplication Good practiceapplication

12. The Role of Bioenergy(Wood, Wooden Residues, Biogas, Organic Waste) EU-Directive for renewable Energy (EU RED)- Increase of the renewable energy portion up to 20 % in 2020- Increase of the biofuel portion in fuel up to 10 % Geothermal Energy Solar EnergyWind Power Water Power Natural gas 23,9% Nuclear power 13,4% Bioenergyproduction in 2007 4000 PJ/y=ca. 25 % ofthe potential Renewable Energy 7,8% Bioenergyca. 70 % Mineral oil 36,4% Coal 16,3% Structure of the primary energy consumption in the EU27 in 2007(ca. 75.600 PJ/a) Source: DBFZ according to Eurostat

13. Future challenge: When to do what with the biomass? Source:Dr. B. KehresBGK, 2007 Anaerobic Digestion Composting Where are theoverlapping areas? Where are theborderlines of the options Biomass for Energy

14. Biowaste Policy

15. Why Increase of Biowaste Recycling in Europe? Key policy drivers in Europe EC Landfill Directive which requires up to 65% diversion of organics in waste from landfilling EC Soil Protection Strategy/Soil Biodiversty EC Climate Change Programme EU Renewable Energy/Biomass Targets Additional drivers - Recycling of valuable resources e.g. Plant nutrients (Phosphorus!!!, Nitrogen) and organic matter for soils) - Peat replacement - Cost savings delivered by waste/landfill taxes

16. 45 % of the European Soilsare Poor/low in Humus = LOW EU Soil Thematic Strategy Communication says: "Compost is the best source for humus/ organicmatter production"

17. Potential Offered by Optimisation of Bio-waste Management & Possible Benefits • CO2 savings potential – 10 - 50 Mt of CO2 (including prevention) • Soil improvement potential – between 3 - 7% of agricultural soils could be improved • Potential for renewable energy – maximum 7% of 2020 target if maximized energy production at cost of recycling • Potential to meet biofuel production targets = 42 % - if the bio-waste is subject to anaerobic digestion and biogas is used as biofuel • Recycling of resources – Nutrients P & N and organic matter. Phosphor reserves only for 70 years! • Landfill Directive diversion targets – Remove of organics before landfilling (65 % until 2016!) Source: European Commission DG Env.

18. Approach for Needed Changes • Rethinking is needed in policy, in economy, in commerce and public towards: • ORGANIC RESOURCES MANAGEMENT!Sustainable and effective management of our resources in closed loops will become the key factor for the future. • But: European Commission, DG Environment concluded in May 2010 as result of 2 years scientific evaluation in an Impact Assessment on the need of bio-waste legislation:"no policy gaps that PREVENT Member States from taking appropriate actions …" and therefore "no need to promote biowaste recycling through a European legal instrument". • Question: Does this conclusion reflect common practice and successful developments in the European waste sector???

19. So, what do we need to realise the biowaste recycling benefits? A PUSH and PULL approach

20. Market Pull Compost & digestate marketing is confidence marketing Range of value added products Marketed to various sectors Achieving customer confidence Standardised high quality product Independently controlled Clean source material Status: Confidence of both private and professional customers requires SEPARATE COLLECTION

21. = Quality Assurance = External!! control Quality Compost & digestate fit for use Product status Market Requires Best Qualities • Experiences of European compost producers: + Separatecollection of organic waste Clean source

22. Regulatory Push Binding targets drive the recycling sectors E.g. targets in the Landfill Directive (!!), Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive and renewable energy sources in RES-Directive Only targets and legislation have led to investment in infrastructure and changes in practices Regulatory “bridge” needed to implement Article 22 (Biowaste) in the WFD and provide framework for sustainable biowaste recycling Targets for biowaste treatment incl. provisions for separate collection needed to drive this Example approach in Sweden NATIONAL target for 35 % of separately collected biowaste sent for biological treatment A very flexible approach – can be applied to most appropriate situations in the Member States

23. THE BIOWASTE ALLIANCE MEMBERS Calling on the Need for European-Wide Legislation Covering the Treatment of Biowaste and Association of Cities and Regions for Recycling and Sustainable Resource ManagementACR+

24. Member States Expectations: The Bio-waste Coalition • Established in 2006 • Members: Austria, Blegium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, Slovakia and Spain • Demanding for legislative measures on EU levelon biowaste in form of a Biowaste Directive which include binding targets

25. The European Parliament's Vision on Bio-waste • In April 2010, the MEP José Manuel Fernandes stated that he: “Urges the Commission to review the legislation applicable to bio-waste with a view ... to drawing up a proposal for a specific directive by the end of 2010”. • This was also confirmed by the Environment Committee of the Parliament in May and June of this year with a very clear vote for a stand alone Bio-waste Directive and a mandatory separate collection of biowaste. • Question: What do we need more???

26. Realising the Bio-waste Recycling Vision Sustainable Bio-waste Policy and Legislation enables: Framework for both public and private sectors to plan and invest Collaboration and integration of recycling systems Critical mass and adequate returns on investment Innovation Reduced economic, social and environmental risk Gaining confidence of market and consumers Successful biowaste recycling across the EU27 through targets and quality assurance systems

27. Thank you! European Compost Network ECN e.V.Net: www.compostnetwork.infoEmail: Info@www.compostnetwork.info