Waste Management Policy Today

Building Partnerships to tackle international challenges

MOLDE 9 NOVEMBER 2017

Vanya VerasSECRETARY GENERAL

MWE members: 17 members from 18 countries and 2 observers

EU Municipalities and their waste management companies

Municipalities are responsible for the recovery of resources from households

60% of EU population

• National Associations of Municipalities responsible for waste management and their waste management companies

• We represent those Responsible for the provision of the service of general interest that is waste management

• We are committed to sustainable waste management which promotes resource efficiency and a circular economy

WHO WE ARE

MUNICIPAL WASTE TREATMENT (2015)

Waste Package – TIMELINE

2017

24 Jan: Vote in the ENVI Committee

14 Mar: Vote in Plenary

May: Working Group Meeting

30 May: 1st Trialogue took place

26 Jun: 2nd Trialogue took place

26 Sep: 3rd Trialogue took place

25 Oct: 4th Trialogue took place

27 Nov: 5th Trialogue

WASTE FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE Our Key Points:

•Definitions – Municipal Waste (broad, statistics)

•Separate collection – packaging & bio-waste - ‘TEEP’

•Calculation method & point of measurement

•Recycling targets

•Waste Hierarchy & allocation of EU funds on waste infrastructure

•EPR & general minimum requirements

•Commercial and Industrial Waste–statistics/recycling targets

•Food waste & marine litter

• All 4 Directives have been discussed• No final compromises have been adopted• Definition of Municipal Waste: – Text still excludes ‘quantity’

• EPR: debate still around full cost coverage and transparency

• TEEP: EC & Council want to keep, EP to delete with flexibility only for environmental reasons

Waste Review – After 3rd and 4th trialogues

• Knowledge Platforms: need support. Council not supporting – important implementation tool

• Calculation method for recycling – Measurement Poin

– Average loss rate

• Recycling targets: decision will be last and political

WFD – After 3rd and 4th trialogues

LANDFILL DIRECTIVE• Only Residual Municipal Waste (after separate

collection) accepted in non-hazardous waste landfills

• Reduction Target: 10% of municipal waste generated by 2030

• Council: extension to 2040

– Still discussing

• Separately Collected Waste:

– NOT ACCEPTED in landfills

• No controls on commercial & industrial waste

PACKAGING & PACKAGING WASTE DIRECTIVE • EPR mandatory for all packaging

• Packaging material – specific targets by weight for recycling

• Minimum requirements only in WFD – not copied into PPWD

• Very high targets contested by Council

• Council: delete ‘Internal Market’ basis

CHALLENGES FOR ALL• Moving from landfill/incineration into more

recycling

• European approach to residual waste

• Local approaches to separate collection and sorting – cooperation and control of EPR

• Common understanding of the different challenges in north, south, east, west

• Push-back from China: closing borders to plastic waste from 1.1.2018

• Investment in new recycling plants needed– Local jobs, retention of profit (Junker)

PATH TO CIRCULAR ECONOMY• PREVENTION – e.g. ban plastic bags, replace with

cotton/hemp

• REUSE – create/support re-use and sharing networks

• RECYCLE – separate collection –HIGHER PRICE– Composting/Anaerobic Digestion– New technologies for recycling plastics: 3D

printing/constant news

• RECOVER - Energy – careful planning - WTE needed for left over waste

• LANDFILL – TAX to SUPPORT REUSE & RECYCLING - 10% by 2030 including commercial and industrial waste

CIRCULAR ECONOMY DRIVE• Circular Economy Finance Platform– Finding new acceptable risk factors to change

banking sector and funds’ approach to funding– From linear to circular funding– Report by mid-2018

• Circular Economy Strategy Platform– First meeting 22 November– Aim to find ways to accelerate transformation and

maximise economic benefits

• Raw Materials EIP: access to materials from waste: understanding, standards, opening market

Building Partnerships

• The way we work in Brussels: – Small team: Me and one Policy Officer

• Pool efforts by working with ‘sister’ organisations, e.g. EUROCITIES, CEMR, CEEP etc.– Joint papers

• Network of key contacts for information gathering

• Storytelling based on sound knowledge of waste management

• Constant dialogue

Building Partnerships

Launching a discussion:

•Seminar/workshop/roundtable– Guest speakers from whole spectrum of

opinions

– Transparent, non-critical debate

– Build understanding, then trust

– Construct solutions together

– Common initiative

Example of EPR• Launched idea that rules/a framework was needed

for EPR as system malfunctioning in 2012, before drafting of the revision began

• EC commissioned a study to identify flaws in the MSs

• MWE held a seminar with all relevant actors to open up all of the contentious issues for discussion

• Municipalities and producers have common problems – sat down with packaging industry and drafted minimum requirements

• Common resolution = shared effort to influence change

Other issues

Fertilisers Regulation: •Very important but also very technical

•Leave the lead to the European Composting Network

•Co-sign their papers when we have common agreement

•Present opinions at ECN events

•Act further if and when necessary

New issue: Plastic Waste• Big issue currently: Ocean Plastic/China

• Cannot be solved only in waste phase

• Much of industry still reluctant to change production/innovate – only 1/3 recycled today

• MWE internal discussion and opinion paper after publication by EC – expected on 6/12/17

• MWE starting with dinner-debate on 28/11 including all differing views

• Further bilateral meetings with production industry

• The aim of this approach is to allow all to speak their mind, share concerns and find solutions

• Underpinned by transparent communication

• ENCOURAGE

• INFORM

• LISTEN

• LEARN

• SUPPORT

• RESOLVE

MWE is recognised for this approach

Building bridges had Built our reputation

We are called to speak for the waste management industry

I welcome your questions

www.municipalwasteeurope.eu

SINCE 2009