12-EIP-RO BUCURES 09

European Seminar on Sustainable Development

A comparative study on urban waste in selected EU-countries. Sustainable Development of EU-wide Urban Waste Management

12-EIP-RO BUCURES 09

European Seminar on Sustainable Development

Urban Waste Management Team

Anabela Peas - Portugal

Guy Vossen - Belgium Arne Maas - Netherlands

Stefan Offner - Austria Isabel Steinhbel - Germany - Anja Delanoff Anca Opri - Romania

12-EIP-RO BUCURES 09

European Seminar on Sustainable Development

Content
1.

2.
3. 4.

6.
7. 8.

9.

Introduction Research Objectives Waste - EU wide problems and measures Research Data Methods of recycling Methods of reducing Conclusions Good practices

12-EIP-RO BUCURES 09

European Seminar on Sustainable Development

Introduction
Waste -> any substance or object which the holder discards or intends or is required to discard MSW (municipal solid waste) -> waste created by normal, everyday activities of urban or densely populated areas

Research objectives
How can the EU stimulate a successful change of consumption

patterns leading to a reduction of urban waste, based on

experiences from different EU countries : Portugal, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Romania.

12-EIP-RO BUCURES 09

European Seminar on Sustainable Development

Waste - EU wide problems and measures

In EU-27 most of the MSW goes to landfills.

The total treated waste per capita is going down in EU-27 in the period 2001-2010 In PT, still almost 62% of all waste is still from 501 kg per capita to 486 kg per going to landfills, in RO this percentage is capita. 99%. Some countries under scrutiny have waste The treated waste that does not end up in figures per capita that are above the landfills, can be divided into two parts: European average (2010) :

In AU, BE, GE and NL the amount of waste going to landfills is almost brought down to zero in 2010.

Austria : 591 kg Germany 583 kg Netherlands 499 kg Portugal 514 kg Belgium 434 kg Romania 294 kg

- incineration - material recovery.

The other two countries are below average:

The latter part is made up of composting & digestion and material recycling.

On a European level
38% of the waste ends up on landfills, 22% is incinerated 40% is recovered

12-EIP-RO BUCURES 09

European Seminar on Sustainable Development

Research Data
Official Statistical data for the European Union

http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page/portal/sdi/indicators/theme2

12-EIP-RO BUCURES 09

European Seminar on Sustainable Development

Statistical data for Europe EU-27 Municipal Solid Waste (EUROSTAT)

12-EIP-RO BUCURES 09

European Seminar on Sustainable Development

12-EIP-RO BUCURES 09

European Seminar on Sustainable Development

12-EIP-RO BUCURES 09

European Seminar on Sustainable Development

12-EIP-RO BUCURES 09

European Seminar on Sustainable Development

12-EIP-RO BUCURES 09

European Seminar on Sustainable Development

12-EIP-RO BUCURES 09

European Seminar on Sustainable Development

Reducing Measurements
The polluter pays system is enforcing producers to rethink their production. Stimulating the search for new, more environmental friendly products and

services.
Promoting life cycle thinking and environmental friendly products. Citizen Responsibility

Stimulating the use of recycled materials

National Prevention Plans implemented for waste reduction and recycling.

12-EIP-RO BUCURES 09

European Seminar on Sustainable Development

Recycling Measurements
Packaging Ordinance Voluntary label Green Dot and The Dual System Improving selective collection of waste and the quality of collected waste Optimization of processing steps to get high quality products The deposit system for bottles and cans is an effective monetary incentive and

leads to a high recycle quote.

The separation of waste and encouragement to recycle starts with the

CONSUMER.

12-EIP-RO BUCURES 09

European Seminar on Sustainable Development

Conclusions
Successful waste management measures have three components:
1. 2. 3.

Financial Government legislation Infrastructure/distribution

The general goal is to reduce the number of landfills and to produce less waste per capita in all EU 27 countries. Ecopoints for plastic, paper, clothes, batteries and electronic waste should be not a moral obligation, but a legal obligation monetary sanctioned.

12-EIP-RO BUCURES 09

European Seminar on Sustainable Development

The recycling of cooking oil allows the production of biodiesel, which is used by the

Portuguese public transportation of passengers and also citizen in their cars, few, but in growing numbers.
Refund system for glass-bottles and cans in Austria and Germany. High rate of composting and digestion of organic waste;

at home - for gardening

comercial - for biogas and bio fuel.

Citizen resposability regarding the selective collection of urban waste:

12-EIP-RO BUCURES 09

European Seminar on Sustainable Development

THANK YOU