EU waste and resource policies Andreas Versmann European Commission – DG Environment Zero waste – February 2009

The General Problem: Lack of Sustainability SourceSink Extraction of natural resources Disposal Production and Consumption Threats to ecosystem services

ONLY ONE EARTH World Footprint = 1.3 earths EU = 2.5 US = 5

25 years Negative impact GDP resource demand decoupling growth from environmental impact The EU Resources Strategy

Disposal Design Manufacturing Distribution Use Collection Reuse, Recycling, Recovery Natural Resources Waste & Recycling SCP: Smarter Consumption SCP: Leaner Production SCP: Better Products Natural Resources The Approach: Life-Cycle Thinking

The Waste Hierarchy Waste Framework Directive: Order of priorities Best environmental outcome Life-cycle thinking Moving waste management up the hierarchy Prevention Recycling Recovery Disposal Re-use

Ensuring protection of health/environment from waste disposal Directives on Landfills and Incinerators  Technical standards for landfills and incinerators  Waste acceptance control  Diversion of biodegradable waste from landfills Waste Framework Directive  Waste management plans of Member States to ensure a sufficient network of waste disposal installations

Recovery and recycling of waste Moving towards a recycling society  Recycling - Directives on  WEEE  End-of-life vehicles  Packaging  Waste Framework Directive  Recycling of 50% paper, metal, plastic, glass from household + option for more fractions  Recycling (and backfilling) of 70% construction & demolition waste  Review 2014  Separate collection to improve recovery and promote high quality recycling  Bio-waste: impact assessment in 2009 Promoting waste-to-energy

Recycling, incineration and landfilling of municipal solid wastes in Europe Source: EEA, 2007.

Waste Framework Directive new requirements concerning prevention:  MS to establish waste prevention programmes;  Programmes to set out prevention objectives, describe prevention measures, determine qualitative and quantitative benchmarks or targets for waste prevention; Indicators to be developed by the Commission; Commission to create a system for sharing information on best practice regarding waste prevention and develop guidelines for Member States; 2014: Commission to propose waste prevention and decoupling objectives by 2020, if appropriate New dimension of waste prevention policy

SCP Action Plan – Product Focus  Eco-design Directive  Energy Labelling Directive  Eco-label  Dynamic framework for continuous improvement; widening of product scope Next Steps for EU Waste and Resources Policies

SCP Action Plan – Consumption Focus  Retailer Forum  Greening the supply chain  Code of conduct  Green Public Procurement  Increase GPP to 50% of public procurement Next Steps for EU Waste and Resources Policies

Waste Hierarchy: turning environmental impacts into opportunities for a green economy ! Prevention Reuse Recycle Recovery Disposal

The EU is taking action  Towards a recycling society  Towards an energy and resource efficient economy  Towards better products, leaner production and smarter consumption

European Commission