EU focus on EU focus on waste waste

managementmanagement

European waste management is European waste management is particularly challenging: particularly challenging:

environmental protection must be environmental protection must be achieved without distroying the achieved without distroying the

European internal market. European internal market.

The EU has firm principles The EU has firm principles

upon which its approach to upon which its approach to

waste management is based.waste management is based.

Prevention principle - minimum Prevention principle - minimum waste production. waste production.

Producer responsibility and polluter Producer responsibility and polluter pays principle.pays principle.

Precautionary principle - anticipating Precautionary principle - anticipating potencial problems.potencial problems.

Proximity principle – disposing waste Proximity principle – disposing waste close to where it is produced. close to where it is produced.

The European Commission has The European Commission has defined several specific waste defined several specific waste

streams to receive priority streams to receive priority attention.attention.

Packaging wastePackaging waste End-of-life vehiclesEnd-of-life vehicles BatteriesBatteries Electrical and electronic wasteElectrical and electronic waste Hazardous household wasteHazardous household waste

Packaging wastePackaging waste

Packaging consumes raw materials during its Packaging consumes raw materials during its manufacture, involves an increasing amount of manufacture, involves an increasing amount of non-degradable plastic and produces toxic non-degradable plastic and produces toxic emissions during incineration.emissions during incineration.

Packaging is now estimated to form up to half the Packaging is now estimated to form up to half the volume of municipal waste in Western Europe.volume of municipal waste in Western Europe.

Only 10-15 % of packaging waste is recovered.Only 10-15 % of packaging waste is recovered.

End-of-life vehiclesEnd-of-life vehicles

The discussion is about The discussion is about

how best to deal with our cars how best to deal with our cars

at the end of their lives.at the end of their lives.

BatteriesBatteries

Batteries contain heavy metals such as Batteries contain heavy metals such as cadmium, mercury and lead, cadmium, mercury and lead,

which are harmful to human health which are harmful to human health

and the environment and the environment

if they are not collected and if they are not collected and

correctly disposed of.correctly disposed of.

Electrical and Electrical and electronic wasteelectronic waste

Discarded electrical and electronic Discarded electrical and electronic equipment are doubling every 12 years. equipment are doubling every 12 years. Such equipment contains significant Such equipment contains significant amounts of all kinds of hazardous amounts of all kinds of hazardous waste, including heavy metals and waste, including heavy metals and various halogenated substances. various halogenated substances.

In addition, many raw materials are needed In addition, many raw materials are needed for the production of new equipment.for the production of new equipment.

Hazardous Hazardous household wastehousehold waste

Hazardous household waste includes Hazardous household waste includes batteries, oils, paints and out-of-date batteries, oils, paints and out-of-date

medicines.medicines.

Waste treatment optionsWaste treatment options

Landfill is likely to remain a disposal option Landfill is likely to remain a disposal option for part of our waste, it requires a high for part of our waste, it requires a high standard to protect human health and the standard to protect human health and the environment.environment.

Incineration: in October 1998, the European Incineration: in October 1998, the European Commission adopted a proposal on Commission adopted a proposal on incineration of waste which updates and incineration of waste which updates and extends the scope of previous legislation extends the scope of previous legislation on incineration of municipal waste.on incineration of municipal waste.

Waste transportWaste transportToo much waste is still moved from place to place. Too much waste is still moved from place to place. In some countries, standards required for waste treatment In some countries, standards required for waste treatment

or disposal are lower and therefore waste treatment or disposal are lower and therefore waste treatment or disposal is cheaper.or disposal is cheaper.

Transport of waste should be minimised to reduce the risk Transport of waste should be minimised to reduce the risk of accidents and save resources. of accidents and save resources.

EU policy lays down that, within Europe, waste should be EU policy lays down that, within Europe, waste should be as close as possible to where it is produced( the as close as possible to where it is produced( the proximity principle). proximity principle).

Community legislation prohibits the shipment of:Community legislation prohibits the shipment of:1.1. All kinds of waste destined for disposal in non-OECD All kinds of waste destined for disposal in non-OECD

countries;countries;2.2. Hazardous waste for recovery in non-OECD Hazardous waste for recovery in non-OECD

countries.countries.

We need more We need more shared actionshared action

Waste generation is still to high and rising rapidly. Waste generation is still to high and rising rapidly. The situation is becoming critical. Competent The situation is becoming critical. Competent authorities must realise their responsibility to authorities must realise their responsibility to act and encourage others to take action act and encourage others to take action before it is too late. before it is too late.

All societal partners must now actively seek All societal partners must now actively seek solutions for our own benefit and that of solutions for our own benefit and that of future generations.future generations.

We share responsibility for our environment. We share responsibility for our environment. Each one of us makes decisions and takes Each one of us makes decisions and takes actions which affect the world around us.actions which affect the world around us.

Actions we can all take every day Actions we can all take every day to improve the situation include:to improve the situation include:

1.1. Minimising the amount of waste you generate. Minimising the amount of waste you generate. Using“Green” products and those with little Using“Green” products and those with little packaging.packaging.

2.2. Reusing packaging where possible.Reusing packaging where possible.3.3. Collecting your waste separately for recycling.Collecting your waste separately for recycling.4.4. Looking into the possibilities of composing organic Looking into the possibilities of composing organic

matter.matter.5.5. Taking special care when disposing of hazardous Taking special care when disposing of hazardous

household waste.household waste.6.6. Asking your municipality what they are doing to Asking your municipality what they are doing to

improve the local waste situation.improve the local waste situation.

CreditsCredits

Andrea Asti and Elisa Baitini.Andrea Asti and Elisa Baitini.

3 Liceo Europeo Istituto “ E. Fermi “3 Liceo Europeo Istituto “ E. Fermi “

CREDITSCREDITS

Andrea Asti Andrea Asti Elisa Baitini Elisa Baitini

Valentina GrassoValentina Grasso

3° grade LICEO 3° grade LICEO

ISTITUTO “ E. FERMI “ISTITUTO “ E. FERMI “ Workshops inWorkshops in Castellanza Castellanza

22-26 October 200722-26 October 2007