1. Formation of tariff policy of household waste management in Flanders ETT 53729 – Kiev, Ukraine 25-26.11.2013 Christof Delatter Association of Flemish Cities and Municipalities www.vvsg.be Tel. +32 2 211.55.99 E-mail: christof.delatter@vvsg.bechristof.delatter@vvsg.be

2. VVSG - This Presentation Legal framework Tariff policy in Flanders Pay-as-you-throw Subsidies Producer responsibility Summary of tariff approach

3. VVSG - Legal framework (1) Municipalities in Flanders are legally responsible for organization of household waste management (collection and treatment) Regulated through municipal by-laws Municipality decides who collects what kind of waste, when and how (within national legal framework) Own service Intermunicipal service Private companies after tendering No one is allowed to collect waste without assignment from the municipality A citizen is not allowed to get rid of household waste in a way, different than what has been regulated by the municipality in which he or she lives

4. VVSG - Legal framework (2) We strongly believe in the importance of integrated waste management policy on the municipal level because: good waste management demands close contact with and full participation by the citizens; this allows optimal community service; creation of ‘market conditions’ on the local level: access for small companies = more players on the market; public utilities and private waste management companies push each other to more efficiency and more effectiveness; pure free market?: uncontrollable and doubtful that private waste management companies would stimulate waste prevention Financing is done indirectly by the public through municipal taxes

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6. Tariff policy in Flanders (1) Citizen paying the municipalities: In the past: all costs financed from either the general budget or from a fixed waste tax per family per year We still see similar practices in other European countries Linked to water consumption Linked to surface of housing But no link to waste produced by the individual family

7. VVSG - Tariff policy in Flanders (2) In the 1990ies: evolution to implementation of polluter-pays- principle through: Introduction of producer responsibility Shift towards variable fees, linked to the quantity of waste produced by the individual families = P-A-Y-T (Pay as you throw) Combined with the non-variable costs still being financed from either the general budget or from a fixed waste tax (or mix of both)

8. VVSG - Tariff policy in Flanders (3)

9. VVSG - P-A-Y-T (1) General principles: Make waste for disposal the most expensive (full cost of treatment): typical for non-recyclable waste Waste, collected separately, but which can be avoided: charge a part of the cost: typicly applied for organic waste Other separately collected waste streams: no variable charging Prevention: is strongly stimulated, for example through the distribution of free home-composting units

10. VVSG - P-A-Y-T (2) Practical implentation of P-A-Y-T: Compulsory use of a household waste bag of a given volume; sold at a certain price Waste is only collected when presented in waste bags, distributed by municipalities Examples of tariffs: Waste for disposal: average 1,5 EUR/bag; plastics: 0,25 EUR/bag; VFG: 1,2 EUR/bag

11. VVSG - P-A-Y-T (3) Practical implentation of P-A-Y-T: Compulsory use of a chipped bin Where the household waste container is weighed and registered when emptied during collection or the number of times that a container is emptied is counted Typical fee: residual waste: 0,20 euro/kg – 3 euro/container of 120l; organic waste: 0,15 euro/kg – 2,4 euro/container of 120l

12. VVSG - P-A-Y-T (4) Practical implentation of P-A-Y-T: Collective systems: the underground sorting street Different subsoil containers, only accessible with identification badge Financing through prepaid-system linked to badge Separate fractions: free; residual waste: same rates as for rubbish bags Requires strong communication, follow-up and enforcement

13. VVSG - Subsidies Regional Government subsidies for municipalities: Voluntary environmental cooperation agreements: commitment to achieve a series of environmental goals in exchange for subsidies Has been a very successfull tool… But will disappear in the near future! Subsidies for specific investments concerning prevention and seperate collection of MSW Financial impact of subsidies is limited… …however politically it can make a big difference

14. VVSG - Producer responsibility (1) Producer responsibility: producers pay the municipalities a fee for the collection activities: FULL COST PRINCIPLE Packaging waste: total cost of collection, sorting and recycling + extra fee for coordination and communication Other take-back responsibilities: industrial sectors will have to pay a lump sum per inhabitant per year and per ton collected on municipal civic amenity sites PR for magazines and newspapers, printed publicity, batteries & accumulators, expired medicines, tyres, WEEE, motor-oil

15. VVSG - Producer responsibility: financing by the producers: example of packaging waste No collection of packaging waste Collection of packaging waste } additional cost } total cost ! France, Italy, Spain,… Belgium, Germany,… Total costs Producer responsibility (2)

16. VVSG - Punishing misbehaviour Illegal dumping Use of wrong recipient Putting waste on the street on the wrong days Littering Wild dumping in forests Illegal incineration Incineration of waste at home is not allowed Both activities can be fined (administratively) up to 250 euro for each violation !

17. VVSG - Waste treatment plants (often intermunicipal) Flemish region Municipalities and intermunicipal organizations Citizens Industries with Take-back responsibilities Companies for collection and recycling/treatment of waste Financing summerized

18. VVSG - Questions ?

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