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Sustainable Development in the Frame of the 7
th
Environment Action Programme
https://doi.org/10.24264/icams-2018.XI.3
8. The first is to help cities become more sustainable.Europe is densely populated
and 80 %of its citizens are likely to live in or near a city by 2020. Cities often share a
common set of problems such as poor air quality, high levels of noise, greenhouse gas
emissions, water scarcity, and waste. The aim is to ensure that by 2020, most cities in
the EU are implementing policies for sustainable urban planning and design, and are
using the EU funding available for this purpose.
9. The final priority concerns wider global challenges.Many of the priority
objectives in the EAP can only be achieved in cooperation with partner countries or as
part of aglobal approach. The EU and its Member States are committed to engage more
effectively in working with international partners towards the adoption of Sustainable
Development Goals as a follow-up to the Rio+20 conference. The EAP also proposes to
explore further steps that could be taken to reduce impacts on the environment beyond
EU borders. «Living well, within the limits of our planet» is aglobal aim.
CONCLUSION
Through the Environment Action Programme (EAP), the EU has agreed to step up
its efforts to protect our natural capital, stimulate resource-efficient, low-carbon growth
and innovation, and safeguard people’s health and wellbeing –while respecting the
Earth’s natural limits.
The new programme includes an “enabling framework” with the next four priority
objectives to help Europe deliver on these goals: better implementation of legislation,
better information by improving the knowledge base, more and wiser investment for the
environment, and full integration of environmental requirements and considerations into
other policies.
It’s acommon strategy that should guide future action by the EU institutions and the
Member States, who share responsibility for its implementation and the achievement of
its priority objectives.
Acknowledgements
This study was financial supported by UEFISCDI in the framework of Bilateral
Cooperation project Romania –China, 2018-2019, contract 9BM/14.03.2018.
REFERENCES
Meadows,D.H. et al.(1972), The limit to growth, Universe Books, New York.
Schmel, F. (2015), Sustainable Development Goals, UNIDO, SDG.
Womersley, M.(2002), “A Peculiarly American Green: Religion and Environmental Policy in the United
States”, Dissertation, University of Maryland School of Public Policy,19-21.
World Commission on Environment and Development, United Nations (1987), Our Common Future.
***, 7th EU action plan,http://ec.europa.eu/environment/pubs/pdf/factsheets/7eap/en.pdf
***, http://ec.europa.eu/environment/action-programme/
***,http://ec.europa.eu/environment/resource_efficiency/about/index_en.htm
***, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jnH9o8Ajd0
***, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3tJL4JRgnA
***, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCN6it0LZvY
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ICAMS 2018 – 7
th
International Conference on Advanced Materials and Systems
https://doi.org/10.24264/icams-2018.XI.4
TOWARDS A CIRCULAR ECONOMY–A ZERO WASTE PROGRAMME FOR
EUROPE
DANA CORINA DESELNICU
1
,GHEORGHE MILITARU
1
, VIORICA DESELNICU
2
,
GABRIEL ZĂINESCU
2
, LUMINIŢA ALBU
2
1
University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest, 313 Splaiul Independentei, sector 6, Bucharest,
Romania, dana.deselnicu@upb.ro
2
INCDTP -Division:Leather and Footwear Research Institute Bucharest, 93 Ion Minulescu str.,
sector 3, RO-031215 Bucharest, viorica.deselnicu@icpi.ro
This paper presents key elements of the revised waste proposals. From the new waste proposals
will benefits the economy, citizens and the environment. Clear rules, common standards and
support for the use of more secondary raw materials will create a safe and sustainable supply of
raw materials to the industry. This helps create new jobs, supports innovation and boosts
competitiveness. Improved waste management rules will reduce landfill and tipping fees. Smarter
use of resources is not only good for business, but will also help protect the environment preserve
essential resources for current and future generations, and create synergies for industries which
most depend on it –such as tourism, agriculture and food manufacturing.
Keywords: circular economy,waste management,secondary raw materials,recycling materials
INTRODUCTION
Circular economy systems (http://ec.europa.eu/environment/circular-
economy/index_en.htm)keep the added value in products for as long as possible and
eliminate waste. They keep resources within the economy when a product has reached
the end of its life, so that they can be productively used again and again and hence
create further value. Transition to a more circular economy requires changes throughout
value chains, from product design to new business and market models, from new ways
of turning waste into a resource to new models of consumer behaviour.
Waste management plays a central role in the circular economy: it determines how
the EU waste hierarchy is put into practice. The waste hierarchy establishes a priority
order from prevention, preparation for reuse, recycling and energy recovery through to
disposal, such as landfilling. This principle aims to encourage the options that deliver
the best overall environmental outcome.
Figure 1. The waste hierarchy
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Towards a Circular Economy – A Zero Waste Programme for Europe
https://doi.org/10.24264/icams-2018.XI.4
The Circular Economy package includes specific proposals to amend the EU’s
waste legislation, seeking to improve waste management practices, stimulate recycling
and innovation in materials management, and limit the use of landfilling. The proposals
will provide a clear and stable policy to allow long-term investment strategies focusing
on prevention, reuse and recycling.
The aim of the paper is to present key elements of the revised waste proposal.
KEY ELEMENTS OF THE REVISED WASTE PROPOSAL (EUROPEAN
COMMISSION, 2015a,b)
In order to boost the economic, social and environmental benefits gained from the
better management of municipal waste, the Commission proposes to ban the
landfilling of recyclable plastics, metals, glass, paper and cardboard, leather and
biodegradable waste by 2025, while Member States should endeavour to virtually
eliminate landfill by 2030. Industry already recognises the strong business case for
improving resource productivity. It is estimated that resource efficiency improvements
all along the value chains could reduce material inputs needs by 17%-24% by 2030
(Meyer et al., 2011) and a better use of resources could represent an overall savings
potential of €630 billion per year for European industry (Europe INNOVA, 2012).
Business driven studies based on product-level modelling demonstrate significant
material cost saving opportunities for EU industry from circular economy approaches
and a potential to boost EU GDP by up to 3.9% (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2012)by
creating new markets and new products and creating value for business. It is not
surprising therefore that companies are continually working to improve resource
management, but they are held back by a range of market barriers.
The European Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) Bureau produces
reference documents on Best Available Techniques, the so-called BREFs, which are
used by competent authorities in EU Member States when issuing operating permits.
BREFs incorporate best practices with regard to the resource use, residues and by-
product’ reuse and recycling as well as waste generation and management, therefore
contributing to the EU initiatives on Circular Economy.
Targets (European Commission, 2015a)
Turning waste into a resource is an essential part of increasing resource efficiency
and closing the loop in a circular economy. Europe currently loses around 600 million
tonnes of waste materials, which could potentially be recycled or reused. Only around
40% of the waste produced by EU households is recycled, with recycling rates as high
as 80% in some areas, and lower than 5% in others. The proposal reflects a high level of
ambition while taking account of the different realities and performance levels across
the EU:
-a common EU target for recycling municipal waste of 65% by 2030;
-a common EU target for recycling packaging waste of 75% by 2030.
-material-specific targets for different packaging materials;
-a binding landfill reduction target of 10% by 2030.
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Towards a Circular Economy – A Zero Waste Programme for Europe
https://doi.org/10.24264/icams-2018.XI.4
The Circular Economy package includes specific proposals to amend the EU’s
waste legislation, seeking to improve waste management practices, stimulate recycling
and innovation in materials management, and limit the use of landfilling. The proposals
will provide a clear and stable policy to allow long-term investment strategies focusing
on prevention, reuse and recycling.
The aim of the paper is to present key elements of the revised waste proposal.
KEY ELEMENTS OF THE REVISED WASTE PROPOSAL (EUROPEAN
COMMISSION, 2015a,b)
In order to boost the economic, social and environmental benefits gained from the
better management of municipal waste, the Commission proposes to ban the
landfilling of recyclable plastics, metals, glass, paper and cardboard, leather and
biodegradable waste by 2025, while Member States should endeavour to virtually
eliminate landfill by 2030. Industry already recognises the strong business case for
improving resource productivity. It is estimated that resource efficiency improvements
all along the value chains could reduce material inputs needs by 17%-24% by 2030
(Meyer et al., 2011) and a better use of resources could represent an overall savings
potential of €630 billion per year for European industry (Europe INNOVA, 2012).
Business driven studies based on product-level modelling demonstrate significant
material cost saving opportunities for EU industry from circular economy approaches
and a potential to boost EU GDP by up to 3.9% (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2012)by
creating new markets and new products and creating value for business. It is not
surprising therefore that companies are continually working to improve resource
management, but they are held back by a range of market barriers.
The European Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) Bureau produces
reference documents on Best Available Techniques, the so-called BREFs, which are
used by competent authorities in EU Member States when issuing operating permits.
BREFs incorporate best practices with regard to the resource use, residues and by-
product’ reuse and recycling as well as waste generation and management, therefore
contributing to the EU initiatives on Circular Economy.
Targets (European Commission, 2015a)
Turning waste into a resource is an essential part of increasing resource efficiency
and closing the loop in a circular economy. Europe currently loses around 600 million
tonnes of waste materials, which could potentially be recycled or reused. Only around
40% of the waste produced by EU households is recycled, with recycling rates as high
as 80% in some areas, and lower than 5% in others. The proposal reflects a high level of
ambition while taking account of the different realities and performance levels across
the EU:
-a common EU target for recycling municipal waste of 65% by 2030;
-a common EU target for recycling packaging waste of 75% by 2030.
-material-specific targets for different packaging materials;
-a binding landfill reduction target of 10% by 2030.
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ICAMS 2018 – 7
th
International Conference on Advanced Materials and Systems
https://doi.org/10.24264/icams-2018.XI.4
Figure 2. Targets for reduction of waste by 2030
(http://ec.europa.eu/environment/circular-economy/index_en.htm)
Measurements
-simplification and harmonisation of definitions and calculation methods to ensure
comparable, high quality statistics across the EU;
-special rules for Member States facing the biggest implementation challenges;
-simplification of reporting obligations and alleviating obligations faced by SMEs;
-introduction of an Early Warning System for monitoring compliance with targets;
-steering Member States towards greater use of economic instruments (such as a
landfill tax) to incentivise the application of waste hierarchy, to prioritise prevention,
reuse and recycling, with disposal as the last resort.
Incentives
-concrete measures to boost reuse activities, including a clearer definition and rules
that expand the scope of reuse activities rewarded under the EU targets;
-general requirements for the operation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
schemes – meaning a producer’s responsibility for a product is extended to the post-
consumer stage of a product’s life cycle, aimed at improving their performance and
transparency, including direct financial incentives for greener product design;
-clearer rules on by-products and end-of-waste criteria to stimulate the sharing of
by-product resources among industries and markets for recycled materials;
-new measures to promote prevention, including for food waste and marine litter,
and reuse;
-provisions to improve the traceability of hazardous waste.
The Benefits to the Economy, Citizens and the Environment of the New Waste
Proposals
These proposals will secure Europe’s access to high quality and affordable raw
materials, making the economy more competitive in the context of volatile resource
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Towards a Circular Economy – A Zero Waste Programme for Europe
https://doi.org/10.24264/icams-2018.XI.4
prices, political instability, resource scarcity, and increasing global competition
concerning the access to raw materials.
Sustainable growth will boost job creation, with more than 170,000 direct jobs
potentially being created in Europe by 2030. A reduction in the total materials
requirement of around 20 % can lead to an estimated 3 % boost in GDP. Measures such
as better ecodesign, waste prevention and reuse could bring net savings to businesses in
the EU of up to €600 billion or 8% of their annual turnover.
The proposals will contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. More than
500 million tons of greenhouse gas could be avoided between 2015 and 2035, directly
by cutting emissions from landfills and indirectly by recycling materials which would
otherwise be extracted and processed. The proposals will reduce landfills, and their
associated pollution.
The proposals will reduce the administrative burden, in particular for SMEs, as
well as for public administrations, by improving definitions and simplifying reporting
requirements.
FROM WASTE TO RESOURCES
Recycling is a precondition for a circular economy –resources and materials can be
recycled, returned back to the economy and used again. What was once considered as
waste can become a valuable resource. To realise the potential of these so called
secondary raw materials, we have to remove the existing barriers to their trade, improve
the waste management practices and guarantee high quality standards. Only then can
industry make full use of secondary raw materials and help ensure their secure supply.
Recovering and Recycling Materials
In a circular economy, materials from products at the end of their lifecycle should be
recovered through dismantling and recycling. Re-injecting these materials into the
beginning of the product lifecycle reduces environmental impact and costs of
production. We are proposing a number of tools to encourage and help this process.
Trading in Secondary Raw Materials
The market and the EU single market for recovered and waste materials are still
underdeveloped. While 45% of waste material from large companies is resold, this
figure falls to only 25% for SMEs. We want to create common standards and market
tools to improve this.
As an example, alongside the prevention and recycling of waste, an important pillar
of FCC Environment CEE waste management approach is treating waste as a valuable
resource. Using modern technologies, they are able to recover renewable energy from
non-hazardous waste collected through our business and municipal waste operations.
(Founded in Austria in 1988 FCC Environment CEE (formerly A.S.A. Group) is one
of Europe's leading waste and resource management companies, operating in eight
countries in the CEE region and employing a workforce of 4.300
international experts) (https://www.fcc-group.eu/en/fcc-cee-group/about-us.html).
Handling more than 1/2 million tonnes of secondary raw materials per year,
extracting value and minimizing waste sent to landfill, they contribute to reducing
environmental burdens for future generations and help save natural resources
(https://www.fcc-group.eu/en/fcc-cee-group/about-us.html).
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Towards a Circular Economy – A Zero Waste Programme for Europe
https://doi.org/10.24264/icams-2018.XI.4
prices, political instability, resource scarcity, and increasing global competition
concerning the access to raw materials.
Sustainable growth will boost job creation, with more than 170,000 direct jobs
potentially being created in Europe by 2030. A reduction in the total materials
requirement of around 20 % can lead to an estimated 3 % boost in GDP. Measures such
as better ecodesign, waste prevention and reuse could bring net savings to businesses in
the EU of up to €600 billion or 8% of their annual turnover.
The proposals will contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. More than
500 million tons of greenhouse gas could be avoided between 2015 and 2035, directly
by cutting emissions from landfills and indirectly by recycling materials which would
otherwise be extracted and processed. The proposals will reduce landfills, and their
associated pollution.
The proposals will reduce the administrative burden, in particular for SMEs, as
well as for public administrations, by improving definitions and simplifying reporting
requirements.
FROM WASTE TO RESOURCES
Recycling is a precondition for a circular economy –resources and materials can be
recycled, returned back to the economy and used again. What was once considered as
waste can become a valuable resource. To realise the potential of these so called
secondary raw materials, we have to remove the existing barriers to their trade, improve
the waste management practices and guarantee high quality standards. Only then can
industry make full use of secondary raw materials and help ensure their secure supply.
Recovering and Recycling Materials
In a circular economy, materials from products at the end of their lifecycle should be
recovered through dismantling and recycling. Re-injecting these materials into the
beginning of the product lifecycle reduces environmental impact and costs of
production. We are proposing a number of tools to encourage and help this process.
Trading in Secondary Raw Materials
The market and the EU single market for recovered and waste materials are still
underdeveloped. While 45% of waste material from large companies is resold, this
figure falls to only 25% for SMEs. We want to create common standards and market
tools to improve this.
As an example, alongside the prevention and recycling of waste, an important pillar
of FCC Environment CEE waste management approach is treating waste as a valuable
resource. Using modern technologies, they are able to recover renewable energy from
non-hazardous waste collected through our business and municipal waste operations.
(Founded in Austria in 1988 FCC Environment CEE (formerly A.S.A. Group) is one
of Europe's leading waste and resource management companies, operating in eight
countries in the CEE region and employing a workforce of 4.300
international experts) (https://www.fcc-group.eu/en/fcc-cee-group/about-us.html).
Handling more than 1/2 million tonnes of secondary raw materials per year,
extracting value and minimizing waste sent to landfill, they contribute to reducing
environmental burdens for future generations and help save natural resources
(https://www.fcc-group.eu/en/fcc-cee-group/about-us.html).
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ICAMS 2018 – 7
th
International Conference on Advanced Materials and Systems
https://doi.org/10.24264/icams-2018.XI.4
Figure 3. FCC Environment CEE waste management
(https://www.fcc-group.eu/en/fcc-cee-group/about-us.html)
KEY COMMISSION PROPOSALS
Quality standards –the lack of adequate tools to ensure the quality of secondary
raw materials is a barrier to their take-up in the EU economy. Common standards are
needed to build and support trade. The Commission will develop such standards where
needed.
Common rules on fertilizers –diverging rules and standards hamper the
manufacturing of organic and waste-based fertilisers from inputs such as food waste,
sewage sludge or manure. The Commission will revise the EU regulation on fertilizers
to help develop an EU-wide market for bio-nutrients while ensuring safety and quality
of the EU Fertilisers.
Using water again – reuse of treated wastewater is a promising and under-exploited
option in Europe. This can alleviate pressure on natural resources that are already
scarce, and the reuse of water in agriculture also contributes to nutrients recycling. The
Commission will take a series of actions to encourage the reuse of treated waste water,
including legislation on minimum requirements for water reuse.
Plastic as a recyclable resource –smart design and proper sorting can increase the
recycling rates of plastics and avoid landfilling, incineration and use of virgin materials.
The Commission will elaborate a strategy addressing issues such as recyclability,
biodegradability, the presence of hazardous substances of concern in certain plastics,
and marine litter.
Use of chemicals fitting the circular model –to increase safety, facilitate recycling
and improve the trust in and uptake of secondary raw materials, the Commission will
promote nontoxic material cycles involving less and better traced chemicals of concern.
The Commission will also examine how chemicals, products and waste legislation can
best work together, including proposals to improve the tracking of chemicals of concern
in products.
Cross-border trade –to facilitate the cross-border circulation of secondary raw
materials, the Commission will simplify cross-border formalities through the use of
electronic data exchange. It will also support an EU-wide research on raw material
flows through the Raw Materials Information System.
CONCLUSION
Clear rules, common standards and support for the use of more secondary raw
materials will create a safe and sustainable supply of raw materials to the industry. This
helps create new jobs, supports innovation and boosts competitiveness. Improved waste
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Towards a Circular Economy – A Zero Waste Programme for Europe
https://doi.org/10.24264/icams-2018.XI.4
management rules will reduce landfill and tipping fees. Smarter use of resources is not
only good for business, but will also help protect the environment preserve essential
resources for current and future generations, and create synergies for industries which
most depend on it –such as tourism, agriculture and food manufacturing.
Acknowledgements
This study was financially supported by UEFISCDI in the framework of Bilateral
Cooperation project Romania –China, 2018-2019, contract 9BM/14.03.2018.
REFERENCES
Ellen MacArthur Foundation (2012), Towards the Circular Economy: Economic and business rationale for an
accelerated transition, available at https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/assets/downloads/
publications/Ellen-MacArthur-Foundation-Towards-the-Circular-Economy-vol.1.pdf.
Europe INNOVA (2012), Guide to resource efficiency in manufacturing: Experiences from improving
resource efficiency in manufacturing companies, available at https://www.greenovate-europe.eu/sites/
default/files/publications/REMake_Greenovate%21Europe%20-%20Guide%20to%20resource%20efficient
%20manufacturing%20%282012%29.pdf.
European Commission (2015a), Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council
amending Directive 2008/98/EC on waste,https://eur-lex.europa.eu/resource.html?uri=cellar:c2b5929d-
999e-11e5-b3b7-01aa75ed71a1.0018.02/DOC_1&format=PDF.
European Commission (2015b), Annex to the Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council
amending Directive 2008/98/EC on waste, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/resource.html?uri=cellar:c2b5929d-999e-
11e5-b3b7-01aa75ed71a1.0018.02/DOC_2&format=PDF.
Meyer, B. et al. (2011), Macroeconomic modelling of sustainable development and the links between the
economy and the environment.Final report, available at http://ec.europa.eu/environment/enveco/
studies_modelling/pdf/report_macroeconomic.pdf.
***, http://ec.europa.eu/environment/circular-economy/index_en.htm.
***, http://ec.europa.eu/environment/circulareconomy/index_en.htm.
***, https://www.fcc-group.eu/en/fcc-cee-group/about-us.html.
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