Precious waste
May 02.05.2012nd, 70 - Waste is too precious to simply throw away. Six EU states have recognized this and now have waste recycling rates of up to 75 percent. The recycling front runners are thus also showing the rest of the EU countries the way towards resource efficiency, and that is sorely needed. Because in nine member states of the EU, more than XNUMX percent of municipal waste is still landfilled. How do the recycling leaders manage to handle their waste so efficiently? The key lies in combining different economic instruments.
Significant differences within the EU
According to a report published on March 27 by the EU statistics agency Eurostat, the six most progressive Member States - Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Sweden and the Netherlands - land less than 3 percent of their municipal waste in landfills. But unfortunately it does not look so laudable in all EU countries. In nine Member States, over 75 percent of waste is still dumped in landfills. The EU Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik said: "Waste is too valuable to be thrown away, because properly managed this value can benefit the economy again." In addition, Potočnik emphasized that the efficient handling of waste also offers economic incentives: “Six Member States now combine zero landfilling with high recycling rates. In this way you not only use the value of the waste, but have also created dynamic industries and numerous jobs. "
Germany
According to the latest figures from the EU statistical authority, 583 kilograms of waste are generated per capita per year in Germany. Germany is thus above the European average of 502 kilograms, but still well behind the country with the largest amount of waste - Cyprus. Around 760 kilograms of municipal waste are generated there per person per year. Even if an above-average amount of waste is generated in Germany, the waste is handled responsibly here. This is how all municipal waste is treated. Around 45 percent of the waste is recycled in Germany. A very good value, because the European average is only 25 percent. In addition, 38 percent of waste in Germany is incinerated, and here too it is above the EU average of 22 percent. The remaining 17 percent of the waste is composted in Germany. All in all, Germany can pat itself on the shoulder, because while 38 percent of all waste across Europe is still deposited in landfills, this value is zero in Germany. The Eurostat figures show the great differences within the various EU member states. 100 percent of the garbage is dumped in Bulgaria, 99 percent in Romania and 94 percent in Lithuania.
Roadmap to resource efficiency
The impending scarcity of resources, especially with regard to raw materials, biodiversity and water, is forcing Europe to rethink. In September 2011 the EU Commission adopted a roadmap for the sustainable transformation of the European economy by 2050. The so-called timetable for resource efficiency shows incentives and possible instruments to achieve the corresponding objective. The strategy paper sometimes formulates goals such as the complete avoidance of landfills and the maximization of recycling. The roadmap also shows ways to ensure future growth and prosperity. Possible instruments for promoting the economical use of resources are, for example, legal provisions or the reorientation of financial instruments. Commenting on the Commission's new tactics, EU Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik said: “Green growth is the only sustainable future - for Europe and for the world. Economy and the environment have to go hand in hand - in the long run we have the same interests ”.
Combination of different economic instruments
The six exemplary member states manage the sustainable use of the combination of different economic instruments. In the six advanced EU countries, landfill and waste incineration costs have increased. The Eurostat report shows that afterwards, landfill and waste incineration rates decreased. Another instrument is the polluter-related waste fee collection, the so-called “pay-as-you-throw principle”. This principle has proven to be very effective in raising citizens' awareness of waste separation. Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik said: "This report shows that this has been achieved by making prevention, reuse and recycling more economically attractive with the help of selected economic instruments". If the EU is to achieve the goals of the Resource Efficiency Roadmap, these economic instruments must be introduced in all member states. Potočnik also confirms this. “Today we have a shared responsibility with Member States and local authorities to ensure that these tools are used effectively across the EU. This is one of the main objectives of the Resource Efficiency Roadmap ”. However, the cost-effectiveness varies greatly between the different Member States and the corresponding waste, so the regulations need to be carefully considered and monitored.
400 000 new jobs
When reviewing the EU's waste management targets in 2014, it should be examined whether it is possible to legally stipulate the use of the instruments. The EU Commission also requires safe waste disposal as a condition for the payment of certain European subsidies. Until the instruments are legally prescribed, the Commission advises the member states to enforce the previous waste regulations more effectively and consistently. The EU's waste recycling industry, which employs around two million Europeans, has an annual turnover of 145 billion euros. It has been calculated that if the EU waste policy were fully implemented, 400 additional jobs could be created and annual sales increased by an additional 000 billion. Last but not least, sustainable and better waste management could help ensure that the individual goals of the “Europe 42 strategy”, which aims for intelligent and inclusive growth, are achieved. (european circle)
