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Reflections on European Waste Management: Challenges and Solutions

This article reflects on the characteristics of EU waste law, the current waste management situation in the EU, and the need for better compliance and waste prevention. It discusses the role of the waste hierarchy and explores the options of energy from waste and recycling. The article concludes with a discussion on securing EU funding and the importance of keeping the Commission and MEPs informed.

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Reflections on European Waste Management: Challenges and Solutions

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  1. Dr Caroline Jacksoncf.jackson@homecall.co.uk Reflections on European Waste Management South East Europe Conference on Waste and Recycling Sofia, April 2011

  2. Characteristics of EU waste law • Can be regulations (directly applicable ) but mainly take the form of directives : ends prescribed but means of getting there left to Member States • This means that directives may contain precise timetables and quantitative targets • The effectiveness of the EU approach is enfeebled by poor mechanisms to ensure compliance

  3. The present picture • Latest figures (2009) show that in EU 27,513kg of municipal waste generated per person • Figures varied between Denmark (800kg per person) and Romania, Poland, Slovakia, Lithuania, Latvia and the Czech republic with less than 400kg . • Overall, 38% of municipal waste was landfilled, 20% incinerated, 24% recycled and 18% composted

  4. Waste prevention • MS to establish waste prevention programmes by 12 December 2013 with prevention objectives and measures • Commission to produce by end of 2011 a report on the evolution of waste generation and the scope for waste prevention, and an action plan, concentrating on changing consumption patterns • By end of 2014 the Commission to set waste prevention and decoupling objectives for 2020

  5. The problem of poor compliance • More than 20% of Commission enforcement dossiers concern environment laws • Investigation and action in the ECJ can take years • No dedicated force to investigate poor compliance – but Commission is looking at possibility of a waste inspectorate • How to make the punishment fit the crime? Does fining poor countries make sense? • What is the role of the European Environment Agency?

  6. Present moves to secure better compliance • Establishment of Impact Assessment Board within the European Commission • European Parliament undertaking to cost its own amendments • Possibility of linking future EU funding to better compliance record • Persist with more active policy of taking Member States to Court of Justice

  7. The new agenda from 2011 • Commission plan is for a “Roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe” to be published in June 2011 • Triggered by EU’s likely failure to reach target of 16% savings in energy use by 2016 : EU may achieve 9-11% saving • Roadmap will prioritise innovative projects that produce long-term environmental benefits.

  8. The key targets • Reduce landfill , by 2020, to one third of amount of biodegradable municipal waste produced in 1995. • “Preparation for re-use and recycling, by 2020, of minimum 50% by weight of at least paper, metal, plastic and glass from household and possibly other origins as far as these waste streams are similar to waste from households • Minimum 70% by weight of non-hazardous construction and demolition waste”

  9. The role of the “waste hierarchy” • “Priority order” is prevention, preparing for re-use, recycling, “other recovery , e.g. Energy recovery” and disposal • Hierarchy does not have to be rigidly applied • Departures from the hierarchy possible “where this is justified by life-cycle thinking on the overall impacts of the generation and management of waste”

  10. Which waste options to chose? • Energy from waste and recycling can co-exist successfully. For example, Holland incinerates 39% of municipal waste, recycles 32% and composts 28% • Recycling must be resource efficient with appropriate destinations for recyclate • EfW plants can help solve EU’s energy crisis • But must concentrate on non-recyclables

  11. Securing EU funding • Concentrate on modern processes which are energy efficient • Avoid innovative solutions which are untried • Do everything possible to root out practices which may divert funds and prolong the planning and building of new plant • Take the national and international NGOs with you

  12. Key message on waste policy • Keep the Commission informed – don’t get a bad reputation • Keep your MEPs informed. They can work for you in Brussels Dr Caroline Jackson

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