Transcript No Slide Title

European Commission
DG Environment
Sustainable Production and Consumption
Opportunities to improve the
EU framework for waste management
Otto Linher,
European Commission DG Environment
[email protected]
http:/europa.eu.int/comm/environment/waste
DGENV G.4 15/09/05 Slide: 1
European Commission
DG Environment
Sustainable Production and Consumption
Why is waste a problem?
 Continued growth of the waste mountain
 around 1500 Mt of waste (excluding agricultural waste)
3.5 tonnes per capita and year
 1995-98 growth by 15% while GDP grew by 10%
 around 240 Mt of municipal waste
540 kg per capita and year
 Environmental impacts of waste





Air pollutants and greenhouse gases
Leachates
Long term heritage of landfills and contaminated sites
Disamenity (noise, odour etc.)
Resource loss and avoidable impacts of virgin materials
production
DGENV G.4 15/09/05 Slide: 2
European Commission
DG Environment
Sustainable Production and Consumption
Why do we need Community policy on waste?
Isn’t waste a local issue?
 National and local authorities remain the key
actors to implement good waste management
 However, good waste management is difficult
if other regions offer lower quality waste
management at cheaper prices
If we want to improve waste management
effectively, the same standards need to apply
everywhere
DGENV G.4 15/09/05 Slide: 3
European Commission
DG Environment
Sustainable Production and Consumption
Community waste legislation today:
 Basic rules




Waste Framework Directive 75/442/EEC
Hazardous Waste Directive 91/689/EEC
Waste lists (Decision 2000/532/EC)
Waste Shipment Regulation 259/93
 Waste disposal installations
 Landfill Directive 1999/31/EC
 Waste Incineration Directive 2000/76/EC
 Waste stream specific legislation







Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive 94/62/EC
End of Life Vehicles Directive 2000/53/EC
WEEE 2002/96/EC and RoHS 2002/95/EC
Waste Oils Directive 75/439/EEC
Batteries Directive 91/157/EEC
Sewage Sludge Directive 86/278/EEC
PCB/PCT Directive 96/59/EC
DGENV G.4 15/09/05 Slide: 4
European Commission
DG Environment
Sustainable Production and Consumption
What have we achieved and what do we need
to improve? - 6th Environment Action
Programme (1)
We have managed to significantly reduce
environmental impacts of waste management
 No overview available but:
Waste Incineration Directive will reduce dioxin emissions
from waste incineration by more than 99% (if fully
implemented)
Landfill Directive will reduce methane emissions and
leachates to soil to a small fraction of earlier levels (if fully
implemented)
Recycling Directives achieve significant resource savings
and reduction of environmental impacts related to
production of virgin material and waste disposal
DGENV G.4 15/09/05 Slide: 5
European Commission
DG Environment
Sustainable Production and Consumption
What have we achieved and what do we need to
improve? - 6th Environment Action Programme (2)
 However, we have not managed to reduced waste
generation...
 link to production and consumption patterns
 what goes into the economy sooner or later comes out as
waste
 …hence the need for more focus on resource management
 Thematic Strategy on Resources
why is resource use a problem?
the use of which resources is a problem?
what priorities to set and with which measures to achieve
objectives/targets to be set?
 Integrated Product Policy
how can we improve production and consumption patterns?
what products/product groups to prioritise?
DGENV G.4 15/09/05 Slide: 6
European Commission
DG Environment
Sustainable Production and Consumption
Thematic Strategy on Waste Prevention
and Recycling
 Waste prevention
 What works and what
does not work?
 Prevention targets?
 Link to Integrated
Product Policy
 Recycling
 Improve the legal
framework for recycling
(definitions, recycling
standards etc.)
 How to follow up
producer responsibility
DGENV G.4 15/09/05 Slide: 7
European Commission
DG Environment
Sustainable Production and Consumption
Thematic Strategy on Waste Prevention
and Recycling
 Modernise
 Simplify (end of waste, definition of recovery)
 Reinforce where needed: waste prevention actions and
recycling standards
 Explanation provided in: (short) Communication + (long)
Impact Assessment, + a ‘story book’
 Immediate action:
 Revise waste framework Directive
 Integrate hazardous waste Directive
 Repeal waste oils Directive
DGENV G.4 15/09/05 Slide: 8
European Commission
DG Environment
Sustainable Production and Consumption
How does this link to producer responsibility
(1)?
 Recycling targets and producer responsibility
obligations have proved to be an important
factor to create stable financing for recycling
 Still, much needs to be done to implement
recycling programs and to achieve the targets
set
...
DGENV G.4 15/09/05 Slide: 9
A Decade for Change
Inc/co-inc
emission
limits
IPPC
permits
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Hazardous
waste
landfills
Non-haz
waste
landfills
WEEE
+ ELV
targets
Landfill:
- Tyres Ban
- Acceptance criteria
2009
Final
ELV
targets
2010
Pckg
targets
2015 2016
PCBs
destroyed
Landfill
diversion
2005: Thematic Strategy
Final
landfill
diversion
European Commission
DG Environment
Sustainable Production and Consumption
How does this link to producer responsibility
(2)?
...
 Therefore, for the moment the focus is on
implementation rather than setting or revising
legislation
In the long run, material specific approaches
and targets at Community level may be options
for simplification and more market orientation
DGENV G.4 15/09/05 Slide: 11
European Commission
DG Environment
Sustainable Production and Consumption
The Planned Commission Report on the
Implementation of the Packaging Directive:
 Evaluation of impact on environment and Internal
Market
 Prevention: essential requirements, packaging
environment indicator, prevention plans
 Re-use
 Producer responsibility
 Heavy metals and other hazardous substances
DGENV G.4 15/09/05 Slide: 12
European Commission
DG Environment
Sustainable Production and Consumption
The preparatory work for the Commission Report:
 ECOLAS/PIRA study on the implementation of the Packaging
Directive and options to strengthen prevention and reuse
 http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/waste/studies/packaging/050224_
final_report.pdf (main report)
 http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/waste/studies/packaging/050224_
final_%20report_annexes.pdf (annexes)
 http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/waste/studies/packaging/impleme
ntation_background.htm (information on the stakeholder consultation,
including the comments received on the draft final report).
 Perchards/FFact study on the progress of the implementation and
impact of the Packaging Directive on the functioning of the Internal
Market
 http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/environment/reports_studies/studies/
report_packaging_direct.pdf
 EEA pilot study on the effectiveness of packaging waste
management systems in selected countries
 Covers Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, United Kingdom, available on:
 http://reports.eea.eu.int/eea_report_2005_3/en
DGENV G.4 15/09/05 Slide: 13
European Commission
DG Environment
Sustainable Production and Consumption
The impact of the Directive on packaging
recovery and recycling
 Packaging recovery and incineration at waste
incineration plants with energy recovery increased
from 31.0 Mt in 1997 (53%) to 41.4 Mt in 2002 (62%)
 Packaging recycling increased from 27.2 Mt in 1997
(46%) to 36.1 Mt in 2002 (55%)
 All of the 75 applicable recovery and recycling targets
for the various Member States were met in 2002
DGENV G.4 15/09/05 Slide: 14
European Commission
DG Environment
Sustainable Production and Consumption
The 2003 recovery and recycling rates
Recovery
50%
Recycling
25%
Glass
15%
Paper
15%
Metals
15%
Plastics
15%
Austria
77
64
83
82
56
31
Belgium
92
74
96
79
93
33
Czech Republic
59
51
63
62
37
38
Denmark
89
54
95
60
41
17
Finland
67
41
61
63
50
14
France
64
48
57
69
57
16
Germany
86
71
86
81
82
53
Greece (2002)
33
33
24
68
10
3
Ireland (2002)
35
35
48
35
35
17
Italy
58
51
53
58
55
24
Luxembourg
87
60
90
64
70
24
Netherlands
92
62
81
69
83
21
Portugal (2002)
50
36
35
50
53
9
Slovak Republic
47
36
27
49
37
12
Spain
48
43
38
57
45
20
Sweden
76
47
92
64
48
17
United Kingdom
53
47
38
65
41
18
DGENV G.4 15/09/05 Slide: 15
European Commission
DG Environment
Sustainable Production and Consumption
The effects of packaging recovery and
recycling on the environment
 Positive effects on most environmental
parameters, including:
 Savings of around 10 million tons of oil equivalent
 around 1 million as a direct result of the packaging
directive
 Savings of around 25 million tons of CO 2 equivalent
 around 0.6% of total EU15 greenhouse gas emissions in
2002
 around 3 million as a direct result of the packaging
directive
DGENV G.4 15/09/05 Slide: 16
European Commission
DG Environment
Sustainable Production and Consumption
The costs of packaging recovery and recycling
 Total cost of packaging waste management
 No recovery: 6.17 bn €
 Baseline scenario: 6.6 bn €
 Packaging Directive 6.8 bn €
of which: financing need for recycling 3.7 bn €
 gross cost 5.3 bn €
 revenue from sale of secondary material 1.6 bn €
Cost for incineration with energy recovery 0.55 bn €
Cost for disposal of remaining packaging waste 2.3 bn €
Additional cost as a result of the Packaging Directive: 227 m €
DGENV G.4 15/09/05 Slide: 17
European Commission
DG Environment
Sustainable Production and Consumption
The costs of packaging recovery and recycling
bn €
Costs of packaging waste
management
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Recycling
Incineration w.e.r.
Disposal
Zero
Recycling
2001
DGENV G.4 15/09/05 Slide: 18
European Commission
DG Environment
Sustainable Production and Consumption
The costs of packaging recovery and recycling
 Current packaging recycling is not substantially more
expensive than costs of alternative disposal
 However:
 Costs vary significantly between materials and applications
 for some materials and applications recycling is clearly cheaper
than disposal
 for some materials and applications recycling is disproportionately
expensive
 in the middle ground recycling costs are comparable to disposal
costs
 Packaging recycling policy has stabilized recycling
where it was previously almost profitable and/or
characterized by fluctuating commodity prices for
secondary material
DGENV G.4 15/09/05 Slide: 19
European Commission
DG Environment
Sustainable Production and Consumption
Is packaging recycling a cost-efficient instrument for
environmental protection?
 Cost of reducing 1 ton of CO2-equivalent through
packaging recycling is estimated as rising from 12 €/t in
1997 to 23 €/t in 2001
 This compares to a current market value of around 22.7 €/t
 However, these figures are very sensitive to variations in recycling
and disposal costs
 They vary significantly depending on materials and applications
 The cost does not only relate to reductions of greenhouse gas
emissions but also to reductions in other environmental impact
categories
 Costs for packaging recycling are in the same order of
magnitude as the cheapest alternatives to achieve the
same environmental benefit
DGENV G.4 15/09/05 Slide: 20
European Commission
DG Environment
Sustainable Production and Consumption
The impact of national policies on packaging
prevention
 Member States have used various concepts to
encourage packaging prevention
 enforcement of essential requirements
 packaging prevention plans
 strong producer responsibility obligations
 prevention targets
 awareness-raising programmes etc.
DGENV G.4 15/09/05 Slide: 21
European Commission
DG Environment
Sustainable Production and Consumption
The impact of national policies on packaging
prevention
 In most Member States, there seems to be some relative
de-coupling of packaging waste growth from GDP
 these prevention policies may have contributed to this de-
coupling but it remains uncertain how much is due to market
forces and how much a result of policy
 however, none of the applied policy instruments has achieved a
dramatic change in packaging put on the market
 none of the instruments seems to be clearly better than the other
instruments
DGENV G.4 15/09/05 Slide: 22
European Commission
DG Environment
Sustainable Production and Consumption
The impact of the Directive on packaging
prevention
 Generation of packaging waste has increased from 59.8
Mt in 1997 to 66.3 Mt in 2002 (+10.9%)
Index (1997=100)
115%
110%
105%
100%
95%
90%
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
Year
Packaging waste generation - Index (1997=100)
GDP in fixed prices - Index (1997=100)
DGENV G.4 15/09/05 Slide: 23
European Commission
DG Environment
Sustainable Production and Consumption
The impact of prevention plans on packaging
prevention
115%
Index (1997=100)
Index (1997=100)
120%
115%
110%
105%
100%
95%
110%
105%
100%
95%
90%
90%
1998
1999
2000
1997
2001
Year
Packaging waste generation - Index (1997=100)
GDP in fixed prices - Index (1997=100)
Spain
Index (1997=100)
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
Year
115%
110%
Packaging waste generation - Index (1997=100)
105%
GDP in fixed prices - Index (1997=100)
100%
Belgium
95%
90%
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
Year
Index (1997=100)
Packaging waste generation - Index (1997=100)
100%
GDP in fixed prices - Index (1997=100)
80%
60%
40%
EU 15
20%
0%
Index (1997=100)
120%
120%
115%
110%
105%
100%
95%
90%
1997
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
1998
1999
2000
2001
Year
Year
Packaging waste generation - Index (1997=100)
Packaging waste generation - Index (1997=100)
GDP in fixed prices - Index (1997=100)
GDP in fixed prices - Index (1997=100)
Netherlands
Italy
DGENV G.4 15/09/05 Slide: 24
European Commission
DG Environment
Sustainable Production and Consumption
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
Year
115%
Index (1997=100)
120%
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Index (1997=100)
Index (1997=100)
The impact of the enforcement of essential
requirements on packaging prevention
110%
105%
100%
95%
90%
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
Year
115%
110%
105%
100%
95%
90%
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
Year
Packaging waste generation - Index (1997=100)
Packaging waste generation - Index (1997=100)
Packaging waste generation - Index (1997=100)
GDP in fixed prices - Index (1997=100)
GDP in fixed prices - Index (1997=100)
GDP in fixed prices - Index (1997=100)
United Kingdom
EU 15
France
DGENV G.4 15/09/05 Slide: 25
European Commission
DG Environment
Sustainable Production and Consumption
105
100
95
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
Index (1997=100)
110
Index (1997=100)
Index (1997=100)
The impact of strong producer responsibility on
packaging prevention
115%
110%
105%
100%
95%
90%
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
Year
Year
Packaging waste generation - Index (1997=100)
Packaging waste generation
Germany
GDP
GDP in fixed prices - Index (1997=100)
EU 15
115
110
105
100
95
90
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
Year
Packaging waste generation
GDP
Austria
DGENV G.4 15/09/05 Slide: 26
European Commission
DG Environment
Sustainable Production and Consumption
The potential use of a packaging environment indicator
 Conceptual tool to measure the environmental impact of
packaging
 Advantages
 Gives guidance on key indicators to analyze the life-cycle impact of
packaging
 Provides simple tools to companies with no previous use of life-cycle
instruments
 Encourages life-cycle thinking
 Disadvantages
 Ignores close relationship between packed good and packaging
 Sales packaging is part of a packaging system (including transport and
grouped packaging)
 Unable to provide unequivocal numbers
 Dependence on underlying assumptions for which there is no universally valid
answer (e.g. sources of electricity generation)
DGENVbefore
G.4 15/09/05 Slide: 27
 Dependence on distribution scenarios which cannot be known
packaging is put on the market
European Commission
DG Environment
Sustainable Production and Consumption
The further planning:
Adoption of the 2005 Commission report to
Council and Parliament
Wait for the reactions from stakeholders,
Council and Parliament
Any further decisions will be taken at a later
stage
DGENV G.4 15/09/05 Slide: 28
European Commission
DG Environment
Sustainable Production and Consumption
Thank you for
your attention!
DGENV G.4 15/09/05 Slide: 29