Public Responsibility and Resource-Efficiency 27 September 2012 Economic and Social Committee Vanya Veras Secretary General

History – the Health Aspect The creation of settlements and increasing urbanisation led to concentrations of waste which nature could not process Unclean Spread of disease The public body was made responsible for coordinating waste removal

Responsibility Implementation of legislation – national – EU Targets to achieve as a locality and nation Reporting

Service to All Charges to citizens – from the municipality on equal and fair calculation basis Prices – maintained affordable Remote or difficult areas – obligation to provide all waste services

Access to Citizens First point of call for information is the municipality In every Member State, citizens receive information on waste collections via their municipality: website, post, local newspaper, flyers, flyers in utility bills

Continuity People like to have a system they can understand and become familiar with Change in waste collection methods are difficult and costly to implement - retraining

Evolution Today…1990s…Middle ages

Material Resources Organisation of bins and collection system/frequency, bring sites, facility Communication Incentives – PAYT (Pay As You Throw), reduced collection charges Sanctions

Energy Resources Waste-to-Energy (incineration or biogas) District heating Choice of power source Choice of most economically and environmentally advantageous option can be made at local and regional level

Freedom of Choice Many different models across Europe – public always remains finally responsible: UK: Outsources collection and treatment via public procurement France: Treatment via PPP/Concession- type contracts and public Sweden: mainly public

Sustainable Economy and Environment Closing the materials and energy loop through Resource- Efficiency Not a public or private issue = a survival issue: –New extraction, transport costs –Recovery of materials is local, affordable, environmentally and economically sound –Recovery of energy is local, affordable, environmentally and economically sound

Bridge Municipal Waste Europe members’ members are in effect the bridge between the actors in resource-efficiency and the public

Experience Shows Elefsina: door to door communication: in 3 years from 20% to 90% separate collection Pireaus: organisation of bins, collection vehicles, basic information in media: in 3 months, from 10% recycling to 30% - in following 3 months, 50% increase in quality Lakonia: Direct citizen involvement with incentives – bring site – 0 to 3000 households recycling in 7 months (communication though local parliament, media)

Thank you for your attention Contact Details: Vanya Veras, Secretary General Municipal Waste Europe, Rue des Deux Eglises 26/5, B-1000 Brussels. Tel: , Please take a flyer!