Unit 1.3 - European Context of CE
- 2. Unit Aims The aim of this unit is to provide the learner with an understanding of the policy context of waste at the EU level and the key measures that are leading to a more circular economy. The learning objectives are: Learning Objectives: • Understand the key building blocks of waste policy at the EU level • Understand how each key policy works towards promoting a sustainable approach to waste management • Recognise the evolution of the circular economy and the value it brings to the EU • Define a training programme that describes the development of waste policy culminating in the circular economy approach. EQF Levels: This content is mainly suitable for EQF Level 5 but can be extended to Levels 6 and 7
- 3. Unit Outline • Introduction • Framework Directives • Landfill Directive • Producer responsibility • Circular Economy Package • Case-studies • Further reading
- 4. Introduction You might think that an economy that grows, will consume more resources. In Europe, each person consume 16 tonnes of resources per year, and yet we have increased our economy by over 50%. While 16 tonnes per person is high, it does show that we have been able to restrain waste growth. Initially, our concern about waste was due to the impact on our health. Then the focus moved to containing waste and limiting its impact on the environment. Now our focus is on limiting our resource consumption. Public Health Environment Protection Resource Consumption
- 5. Introduction Next slide shows the video link to learn more about how much resources Europe consumes and wastes • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QH_fYLMjSg
- 6. What is the EU doing? How the EU tackling the problem of waste? The most obvious approach is to apply legislation. The EU defines high level Directives or Regulations which each country has to implement within a certain timeframe. Each country can implement these directives in their own way but the principles and outcomes must be the same as intended by the directive. For instance one country might choose to ban waste going to landfill, while another might choose to apply a very high tax on every tonne landfilled. Both will have the same effect of stopping waste going to landfill.
- 7. Waste Framework Directive Let’s start with the Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EC). This sets out a number of articles which have major implications for ‘how waste is managed across Europe’. Article 1 defines waste as “any substance or object which the holder discards or intends or is required to discard”. This legal definition is essential if waste is brought into a system of regulations Article 4 makes the waste hierarchy at the heart of our policies: that waste prevention is preferred to reuse which is preferred to recycling which is preferred to disposal. Recycling targets for household wastes and construction wastes are set for each country in Article 11.
- 8. An exercise The previous slide gave the legal definition of waste. Note that this definition is from the perspective of the holder. Since the holder no longer needs the product or material, he has no self interest in making sure it is disposed safely. Can you give some reasons as to why it is important to have such a legal definition?
- 9. An exercise - answer The main reason is that if a material or product is considered to be ‘waste’ then it is subject to all the regulatory controls on transportation, treatment at facilities with permits, and the disposal of the waste can be an illegal act. So let’s say someone buys a new car and after 3 years decide to trade it in for a new one, from the definition the traded in car is actually “waste”, even though it has value. However, we can be pragmatic about the definition, and in any case the old car is subject to a recovery operation (clean and polish) and therefore ceases to be waste before it is sold on. “any substance or object which the holder discards or intends or is required to discard”
- 10. Other Directives The Waste Framework Directive was first established in 1975, but two other Directives have been introduced since then: The Landfill Directive (1999/31/EC) fundamentally changed the way waste is disposed of to landfill. Tight engineering standards which prevent leakage into groundwater, the banning of tyres and liquid wastes to landfill were introduced. An important measure was the restriction of organic (biodegradable) wastes going to landfill, which generates methane gas – a powerful greenhouse gas. The Industrial Emissions Directive (2010/75/EU) controls the emissions from waste incineration facilities.
- 11. Background to Producer responsibility As the name suggests producer responsibility aligns itself to another concept in the Waste Framework Directive – the polluter pays principle. Producer responsibility looks to place the financial burden for the recycling and disposal of products back on the producers. The EU has established 4 main waste streams that are subject to producer responsibility. Specific recycling targets have been set for these streams, with most EU member states choosing to make the relevant producers meet the cost of managing the waste. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6Tx4sqHyr0&feature=youtu.be https://player.vimeo.com/video/45872616 Watch videos on next slides
- 12. An exercise So what other waste streams cause particular problems to the environment and would benefit from producer responsibility (PR) legislation? Now the challenge here is to consider the following: 1. Does the waste cause particular harm to the environment? 2. Is it easy to identify the level of burden that can be placed on individual producers. 3. Should the consumers pay instead? Which of these three waste streams do you think are suitable for PR? Food Waste from homes MattressesTyres
- 13. Circular Economy Package Details on the so-called Circular Economy Package can be found here. It represents the next big push by Europe to become a society which uses resources efficiently. It has two elements: 1. Revisions to the Directives mentioned previously which mainly involves increasing recycling targets limiting waste going to landfill; and 2. An Action Plan which promotes greater eco-design considerations, improved resource efficiency in industry, encourage green procurement. Certain waste streams such as plastics and food waste are to be targeted.
- 14. Summary • Europe has led on policies to reduce our demand on resources • Similar legislation applies across the EU which has led to increased recycling, and better protection for the environment from the effects of poor waste disposal practices • The EU is now embracing circular economy thinking
- 15. Check these Links too Details of the EU Circular Economy Package http://ec.europa.eu/environment/circular-economy/index_en.htm Waste Policy across the EU http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/index.htm EU and sustainable use of resources http://ec.europa.eu/environment/archives/natres/index.htm