Zero Waste International Alliance, Naples, Italy

19th February 2009

Zero Waste in Central and Eastern Europe?

Where does EU money go?Ivaylo Hlebarov, Environmental Association Za

Zemiata (For the Earth), Sofia, Bulgaria; member of CEE Bankwatch Network

Content

•Introduction•Short presentation of the playing field in CEE•Presentation of the Sofia case•Official proposal•NGO proposal•Questions & answers

Zero Waste Internationa Alliance, Naples, Italy 19th February 2009

EU funds and the EIB support in CEE

Structural and cohesion funds:

€347bn for 2007-13 = 36% of EU budget€177bn for CEE-10 = 2.5x more annually than in 2004-06 

European Investment Bank, EU’s public bank

Total annual portfolio: €53bn in 200668 % of the EIB's lending to the waste sector over the 2002-2006 period went to incinerator projects (EUR 992.6 million)only EUR 30 million of EIB finance in the period went for composting, for one project, and EUR 17 million for two sorting centres for recycling.

Zero Waste Internationa Alliance, Naples, Italy 19th February 2009

Playing field in Central and Eastern Europe

• National waste management plans/strategies focused on end-of-pipe solutions

• EU financial support is mainly spend on heavy infrastructure – landfills and incineration (to cope with EU legislation)

• EU legislation is promoting incineration

• Western Europe consultants – advice authorities to use magic technologies

• Low level of separate collection and recycling

• Corruption and who deals with the waste management

Zero Waste Internationa Alliance, Naples, Italy 19th February 2009

RegioScars Award 2009RegioScars Award 20091st place1st place

toto

Twelve (Twelve (Nine 2008Nine 2008) waste ) waste incinerators, Poland incinerators, Poland

The most ill-conceived project planned for EU funding in CEE countries The most ill-conceived project planned for EU funding in CEE countries in 2007-13. in 2007-13.

This project in its current form deserves 0 euros from the EU budget. This project in its current form deserves 0 euros from the EU budget. Alternative options should be assessed first.Alternative options should be assessed first.

CEE Bankwatch Network and Friends of the Earth Europe present:CEE Bankwatch Network and Friends of the Earth Europe present:

Naples and Sofia going hand by hand

Zero Waste Internationa Alliance, Naples, Italy 19th February 2009

Plastic bales with mixed, shredded waste (eco bales?!)

Zero Waste Internationa Alliance, Naples, Italy 19th February 2009

Sofia case

Sofia waste management project/crisis

• 1.3 mln people, roughly 1 200 t/daily municipal waste ~ 480 000 t/y

• the only landfill closed after protests in 2005, illegally reopened 2007

• in 2005 following the example of Naples (Napoli) – baling of waste started, leaks smells, expensive – corruption and Mafia run the waste management

• landfill reopened in 2007 after EC started infringement procedure, few days ago Bulgarian court declared reopening was illegal

• incinerator company Fichtner contracted to propose a system (2.5 mln euro) – estimated project costs above 210 mln euro

• 4 alternatives – Selected one include RDF (refuse derived fuel), roughly 30% recycling at maximum

Zero Waste Internationa Alliance, Naples, Italy 19th February 2009

NGO alternative - on the way to Zero Waste

At least 50% recycling of total waste with a potential for a higher target by 2020 Good separation system Residual waste – after additional separation, stabilised by MBT and landfilled PAYT system to be potentially introduced Involve informal sector – waste pickers Try to use EU funds for the system

Zero Waste Internationa Alliance, Naples, Italy 19th February 2009

Thank you for your attention

<hlebarov@bankwatch.org

<www.zazemiata.org<www.bankwatch.org

Zero Waste Internationa Alliance, Naples, Italy 19th February 2009