The European Compost Network welcomes the adoption of the Circular Economy Package by the European Parliament. As part of the package, the revised Waste Framework Directive recognises the potential of the bioeconomy and provides vital incentives that will boost the circularity of bio-waste across Europe. For the first time, the way is paved that annually around 100 million tonnes of valuable organic resources will be separately collected and recycled.

“The revised Waste Framework Directive is a major step towards unlocking the potential of 50,000 new jobs in the bio-waste management sector. We look forward to working with the Member States on the implementation of the Circular Economy Package and the creation of sustainable growth in Europe”, commented Henrik Lystad, chair of the European Compost Network.

The Waste Framework Directive introduces recycling and re-use targets for municipal waste, including bio-waste, of 55% by weight in 2025. These targets will increase to 60% and 65% in 2030 and 2035, respectively. All bio-waste shall be collected separately from other waste streams by the end of 2023. From 2027, only bio-waste separately collected or separated at source will be counted as recycled.

The European Compost Network also welcomes the consideration of specific recycling targets for municipal and industrial bio-waste. However, as long as these targets are not in place, it is important that the European Commission exercises on a regular basis its obligation to assess and share best practices of effective bio-waste management and to draw up recommendations for Member States lagging behind.

Next steps
As the European Parliament has adopted the Circular Economy Package including the revised Waste Framework Directive on 18 April 2018, the Council of the European Union is scheduled to adopt the files by the end of May. Shortly after, the legislation will come into force and Member States will have 24 months to transpose it into national law.

Further information
The ECN press release ‘Biowaste sector ready to act on circular economy package’ can be downloaded here.

The European Compost Network (ECN) has summarised the main aspects related to bio-waste in a factsheet which can be downloaded here.

The legislative texts of the Waste Framework Directive (WFD) and on the Landfill Directive can be accessed with the following link, which has to be copied in the browser:

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?lang=&reference=2015/0275(COD)

Online publications of the European Parliament
European Parliaments stresses the importance of better waste management in Europe
 

In advance of the vote in the Plenary of the European Parliament on the Circular Economy Package and the waste legislative proposals the European Parliament has published a video and infographics on the need to improve waste management in Europe.

To face the growing need to recycle and reduce waste across Europe, the EU is preparing a new policy for a greener and more competitive future. Europe has a problem with waste, and it's piling up. Not enough recycling and too many landfills are an unsustainable scenario. But the European Parliament is backing measures for change. New plans to keep waste out of the trash bin, and make landfills a thing of the past are at the centre of the European Union's Circular Economy Package. A policy that aims to not only increase reusing and recycling but also to prevent waste through better packaging, as well as improved lifestyle and business choices. It is not a policy exclusively targeted at waste, but a more general development policy. The main measures of the package are prevention measures in the production of waste.

Today, less than half of all municipal waste is recycled or composted. By 2035, the EU wants to see that number rise to 65 percent, while at the same time limiting the amount of waste that reaches landfills to 10 percent. With other targets focused on producing better materials and green incentives for businesses, the EU believes the measures will also contribute to creating more green jobs. The package contains other interesting measures, but it has to be emphasised that it is a policy which aims at making Europe more competitive.

Implementing these measures will be left to EU member states, a major challenge for some that continue to rely too heavily on landfills. But as Europe shifts to a circular economy, the path to prosperity will soon become a sustainable one. Source: www.europarltv.europa.eu.

The video ‘The Circular Economy Package; new EU targets for recycling’ and the infographics of the European Parliament can be accessed here.
 

International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW) is the largest and most comprehensive education initiative of the compost industry. It is celebrated nationwide and in other countries each year during the first full week of May. Started in Canada in 1995, ICAW has continued to grow as more people, businesses, municipalities, schools and organizations are recognizing the importance of compost and the long-term benefits from organics recycling.
 

The goal of the program is to raise the awareness of the public regarding the benefits of using compost to improve or maintain high quality soil, to grow healthy plants, reduce the use of fertilizer and pesticides, improve water quality and protect the environment. The program includes a poster contest in the U.S, programs at schools and activities and events promoted through governments, public municipalities and local businesses. This year, activities span the globe with celebrations planned across the United States, Canada, Europe, Italy, Ireland and Australia.

Please take the chance to participate actively in the International Compost Awareness Week 2018!

Please find the joint press release of the organisations from Australia, Canada, Europe, Ireland, Italy and the United States here.
 

Please visit for more information the website of the International Compost Awareness Week:
www.compostfoundation.org/icaw

14-18 May 2018, Munich (DE)
IFAT 2018

This conference is an international, large-scale trade fair on Water, Sewage, Waste and Raw Materials Management.

More than 3,100 exhibitors and over 135,000 visitors are expected to attend IFAT from May 14 to 18, 2018. The supporting program comprises panel discussions, specialist presentations and live demonstrations and will examine future topics of the environmental technology sector at expert level. The conference takes place in the Messe Munich.

More information can be can be accessed through the conference website here.

The next edition of EU Green Week will explore ways in which the EU is helping cities to become better places to live and work. Showcasing policy developments on air quality, noise, waste and water management, it will promote participatory approaches to urban development, networking schemes, and tools for sharing best practices, engaging local authorities and citizens, and encouraging them to share their vision of a sustainable future.

EU Green Week 2018 will include events across Europe, a high level conference in Brussels from 22-24 May 2018, and Opening and Closing events (21 and 25 May) to take place in the Member States. These High Level Opening and Closing events will have a particular prominence, setting the tone for the week’s debates, and showcasing political conclusions at the end.

Further information can be accessed here.