Waste and Europe

by: Christine Ruther

Elimination of waste generation from cradle to grave is a significant issue in Europe. For an overview of the current status of affairs in this area, see Europa’s “Environment and Sustainable Development” webpage at http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/environment/index_home/waste_management/waste_management.htm.

Below is a summary from the Europa and related websites. Much of the information is directly quoted from the “Environment and Sustainable Development” webpage.

Packaging Directive – 94/62/EC – packaging and packaging waste

General Information: Proposal COM(2001)729 fixes the new targ et s for the second five-year phase for waste reduction was approved on the 7th of December 2001. The specific targ et s are summarized on the Europa webpage noted above. In all, five standards have been proposed. Two have been accepted and published in the Official Journal: EN 12428 Prevention (except for third indent) and EN 13432 Composting and Biodegradable. Three were rejected and are expected to be revised: EN 1329 on Reuse (number of trips/rotations), EN 13431 on Requirements for packaging recoverable by material recycling (must be made to enable recycling of a certain percentage), EN 13431 Requirements for packaging recoverable in the form of energy recovery, including the specification of the minimum inferior calorific value.

Objective:This Directive aims to harmonize national measures concerning the management of packaging and packaging waste in order, on the one hand, to prevent any impact thereof on the environment of all Member States as well as of third countries or to reduce such impact, thus providing a high level of environmental protection, and, on the other hand, to ensure the functioning of the internal mark et and to avoid obstacles to trade and distortion and restriction of comp et ition within the Community. To this end this Directive lays down measures aimed, as a first priority, at preventing the production of packaging waste and, as additional fundamental principles, at reusing packaging, at recycling and other forms of recovering packaging waste and, hence, at reducing the final disposal of such waste. [Links to implementing measures can be found at http://europa.eu.int/scadplus/leg/en/lvb/l21207.htm.]

PVC Guidance – COM (2000)469 – green paper on environmental issues of PVC

General Information: The paper provides and overview of the PVC industry and summarizes measures to reduce waste PVC. Full text is available at http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/waste/pvc/en.pdf. A summary of content and links to comments is available at http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/waste/pvc/green_paper_pvc.htm.

Objectives: First, to present and assess on a scientific basis, the various environmental issues including related human health aspects that occur during the life cycle of PVC. Second, to consider, in view of sustainable development, a number of options to reduce those impacts that need to be addressed. This should serve as a basis for a consultation with stakeholders in order to identify practical solutions to health and environmental issues raised by PVC.

WEEE – 2002/96/EC – waste electrical and electronic equipment

General Information: By 13 August 2005 Member States will have to s et up collection systems for waste electrical and electronic equipment and take measures so that WEEE is collected separately. By 31 December 2006 Member States have to me et a binding targ et of 4kg per capita/per year for the separate collection of WEEE from private households and ensure that a very high percentage of the WEEE collected will be re-used, recovered or recycled. Producers will be responsible for the financial aspects related to the waste from their own products. Changes have been proposed that will eliminate the financial burden on historical WEEE and only require consideration for newly distributed product. [This is the directive that inspired last years California legislation, the Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003 (SB 20).]

Objective: The purpose of this Directive is, as a first priority, the prevention of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), and in addition, the reuse, recycling and other forms of recovery of such wastes so as to reduce the disposal of waste. It also seeks to improve the environmental performance of all operators involved in the life cycle of electrical and electronic equipment, e.g. producers, distributors and consumers and in particular those operators directly involved in the treatment of waste electrical and electronic equipment.

RoHS – 2002/95/EC – restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment

General Information:The RoHS Directive provides that, from 1 July 2006, electrical and electronic equipment will not contain any more lead, cadmium, mercury and hexavalent chromium and brominated flame r etardants (PBB and PBDE). A list of exemptions appears in the directive. It is expected that the directive will be periodically reviewed to adjust the material being banned and the exemptions allowed in light of evolving scientific data.

Objective: The purpose of this Directive is to approximate the laws of the Member States on the restrictions of the use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment and to contribute to the protection of human health and the environmentally sound recovery and disposal of waste electrical and electronic equipment.

In addition to the working legislation and voluntary guidance noted above, the following are being discussed:

Eco-design of energy-using products: Proposal for a Framework Directive

Objective: The proposal aims to create a comprehensive and coherent legislative framework for addressing eco-design requirements with the aim of: 1) ensure the free movement of energy-using products within the EU, 2) improve the overall environmental performance of these products and thereby protect the environment, 3) contribute to the security of energy supply and enhance the comp etitiveness of the EU economy, 4) preserve the interests of both industry and consumers. More information is available at http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/eco_design/index.htm.