Assises Nationales des Dechets

Ten editions at the heart of European debates on waste

Administrateur de l'assise des déchets — 2010-06-28T07:54:01Z

Against a background of tightening relations between EU member countries, the Assises Nationales des Déchets (National Waste Conference) have been extending their influence. This nearly 20-year experience of organising debates and exchanges on waste issues in La Baule presents promising perspectives…

The La Baule National Waste Conference has seen everything from very vivid, highly technical or philosophical exchanges, to pragmatic discussions on field experiences, official public statements but also very fruitful behind-the-scenes exchanges, or debates on the legislation in force and on technical and industrial challenges.
The Assises, launched in 1991, are a bi-annual event whose purpose is to take part in the search for concrete waste management solutions. This ambitious objective seems to have been partly achieved, for these meetings have had a strong impact on the actions taken by France. They also have an increasingly high profile in Europe. It should be reminded in particular that the 1992 law, which set the main orientations of the French waste policy, was largely uncovered in the first Assises, in fall 1991.
Since then, the national La Baule event has grown European with the henceforth systematic participation of the European Commission’s representatives and of the Ministries in charge of the Environment and/or of the Industry from multiples Member States.
The La Baule Conference has indeed become the special venue where the European debate on waste management gets enriched by the various UE Member States’ experiences. UE countries have finally become aware that waste is not a local or national issue but a European or indeed even worldwide reality and are now trying to suit their waste management policies to that reality.

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Administrateur de l'assise des déchets — 2010-06-15T07:49:47Z



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Administrateur de l'assise des déchets — 2010-06-14T07:53:53Z



assises.dechets@emn.fr

Dix éditions, au coeur des débats européens des déchets

Administrateur de l'assise des déchets — 2010-06-11T13:17:26Z

A l'heure où se resserrent les relations entre les pays membres de l'Union européenne, les Assises des Déchets étendent leur influence. Depuis près de 20 ans et dix éditions, l'expérience accumulée à La Baule du débat et de l'échange offre de belles perspectives....

Des coups de gueule retentissants mais aussi des échanges techniques pointus, des débats philosophiques élevés mais aussi des comptes-rendus pragmatiques d’expériences de terrain, des scènes publiques très officielles mais aussi des rencontres en coulisses très fructueuses, des discussions sur la loi mais aussi des réflexions mêlant enjeux techniques et industriels… Il y a tout cela aux Assises de La Baule.
Créées en 1991, les Assises des déchets se présentent comme un événement biennal, et se donnent pour objectif de participer à la recherche de solutions concrètes pour la gestion des déchets. Un objectif ambitieux… qui semble en grande partie atteint, tant ces rencontres ont eu un fort impact sur les mesures prises en France, et tant elles connaissent une notoriété de plus en plus grande au niveau européen. Pour mémoire, la loi de 1992, qui a fixé les grandes orientations de la politique française de gestion des déchets, a été largement dévoilée aux premières Assises, dès l’automne 1991.
Depuis lors, l’événement baulois a changé de dimension : de national, il a gagné un rayonnement européen, avec la participation dorénavant systématique de représentants de la Commission européenne et de ministères chargés de l’environnement et/ou de l’industrie de multiples pays membres, qui font évidemment le voyage de l’Atlantique.
Il semble en fait que La Baule soit devenu un lieu un peu à part dans le débat européen sur les déchets. C’est là où les expériences des différents pays européens viennent enrichir le débat commun, essayant d’inventer une gestion adaptée des déchets, prenant enfin en compte que les déchets ne constituent pas une question locale ou nationale mais bien au contraire une réalité européenne voire mondiale.

Mr Robert Schmit

Diane — 2009-12-02T14:17:55Z

Director of the Administration of the Environment, Luxembourg
How do you rate the issue of waste as part of the policies implemented in your country?

Since the start of the 80s, setting up an ecologically-friendly waste management system has occupied an important position in the Luxembourg policy on the environment. Accordingly, a number of commitments were entered into with the aim of reducing the amounts of waste sent for disposal process. At the same time, significant efforts were made to modernize existing waste disposal plants and for ensuring their compliance with the best available techniques.

In 1984, the first national waste management plan was produced. The government decided to update this plan in 1991. The initial plan set up for the purpose of implementing a legal requirement was that approved by the Government in 2000. Now, a new revision of the general waste management plan is ready for approval after completion of the public consultation procedure.

The implementation of this series of plans has enabled Luxembourg to be equipped with efficient infrastructures involving selective waste collection with a view to recycling. Today, almost all the population has access to at least one organic waste collection scheme while more than 40% of the population supports the selective collection of kitchen organic waste. Glass and paper collection facilities are available to the entire population. Added to this, we have a network of 22 recycling centres representing approximately one centre for every 20,000 inhabitants. These centres receive a multitude of waste types, each of which undergoes further sorting and grading in order to achieve optimum recycling.

Alongside these different infrastructures managed by towns or town councils, the Ministry for the Environment is also running a national waste management scheme targeting household waste that is difficult to dispose of. In the same context, we also have an ecological waste management advisory scheme targeting businesses and especially SMEs, accompanied by a label incentive applicable to the setting up of a quality waste management system.

Various agreements on the environment signed by the Ministry for the Environment with professional entities have enabled us to apply a synergy involving the different collection structures. The result is that Luxembourg has returned results that are among the best in Europe in the fields of packaging waste and electrical and electronic equipment waste.

Despite a significant increase in population and in a high cross-border level equal to 29% of the national population, the outcome is that the amounts of municipal waste sent for ultimate disposal have tended to decline.

Therefore, if, over recent years, the waste management policy applied in Luxembourg has enabled us to achieve good results compared to the reduction target for municipal waste that has to undergo a disposal process, a new challenge will be rearing its head in the years to come. As part of the climate package approved by the European Union, Luxembourg will be required to produce 11% of its energy requirements from renewable sources. As Luxembourg has very few means enabling it to achieve this target, biomass will have to play a major part. This source includes organic waste which will now have to be collected as comprehensively as possible.

Does your country face a specific waste-related problem? And, if so, which?

During recent decades, the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg has witnessed major economic and demographic developments. With the decline experienced by the steelmaking industry during the seventies, Luxembourg’s economy focused on the tertiary sector. Subsequently, we saw a major rise in the immigration of employees in this area on top of the already fairly significant arrival of construction industry workers. So, from 1981, the population rose by 33%. To this figure, we have to add some 138,000 cross-border workers who come into Luxembourg every day to work, constituting a 29% day-time increase in our national population.

This situation is undoubtedly unique throughout the European Community and also has repercussions on the production of waste and in terms of dialogue with the residential and on-residential population on awareness and information measures.

The economic and demographic situation has also resulted in the completion of a number of new buildings intended for use as homes, for government or commercial or even public service purposes. This has led Luxembourg to face a major waste management problem, that of excavation spoil. Every year, we produce 5.5 million tonnes of non-recyclable (in view of their geological make-up) amounts of these waste categories. This equates to 3.1 million m3 per year that have to be disposed of under appropriate environmental conditions in a very small territory.

In your opinion, what are the main challenges facing waste policies in Europe today? In order to safeguard the environment, to develop cost-effective systems, recycling etc.?

The meteoric rise in oil prices in 2008 highlighted the precarious nature of our natural resource management systems. At that point in time, there was a strong demand for secondary materials worldwide and this was reflected in the high prices paid for these materials.

The drop in oil prices combined with the economic crisis has resulted in the collapse of the market for secondary materials. Consequently, selective collection schemes and the re-use of secondary materials have been suspended.

The main challenge regarding waste management policies consists in putting in place both structures and psychological approaches designed to keep materials in the economic loop for as long as possible. We need a rational management of natural resources and enhanced use of secondary materials that are as stable as possible, irrespective of changes in the price of raw materials in general and of oil in particular.

To this end, it is absolutely essential to be able to guarantee quality recycling. Throughout Europe, this would result in the creation of new business activities that could gradually replace those involving the extraction of natural resources where sources are declining in Europe.

What is your opinion of the way in which the waste framework directive is being deployed in Europe? Generally and, for comparison purposes, in your country?

The new waste framework directive could provide an opportunity for rationalising the management of natural resources. However, it could also hide a trap.

It provides an opportunity insofar as the framework directive insists on the hierarchy meeting management targets. It also sets minimum recycling levels that have to be achieved, particularly on municipal waste and construction waste. Additionally, this recycling must be of a quality that aims to ensure that secondary materials remain within the economic loop for as long as possible.

It is a trap because waste incineration will now be regarded, under certain conditions, as a re-use operation. The danger is that secondary materials can only be used once to produce combustion energy while they could still have replaced raw materials for several re-use cycles.

Therefore, it is to be hoped that the member States that are in the process of setting up their waste management schemes prioritise prevention and quality recycling of materials rather than opting for a strong incineration approach.

In Luxembourg, municipal waste recycling levels are already quite high although we have yet to reach the minimum set by the framework directive on waste. The new general waste management plan includes a certain number of measures whose primary purpose, alongside prevention, remains an extremely selective sort in order to maintain the best possible grade for the different fractions collected in this way and to ensure, through this approach, that these materials continue to be re-used for as long as possible. Incineration will also play a part in the management of Luxembourg’s waste but will have to be restricted exclusively to non-recyclable waste.

How do you see waste practices in a particular European country fitting in with the general European policy?

The various member States have reached different levels of development in terms of waste management policies. While some countries have already progressed in this field for several decades and now have firmly established structures and methods, others are only just starting out on this road and are investigating methods that are the best suited to their own context.

In the case of the latter, the European Community provides a remarkable opportunity insofar as they can take inspiration from systems that already exist in a particular member State. Therefore, they can set up an ecologically-friendly management system for their waste more quickly while taking their national specific features into account. On the other hand, member States that already have a longer experience in this area run the danger of becoming blinkered by their firmly established structures.

Pdf version

Mr Humberto D. Rosa

Diane — 2009-12-02T14:13:29Z

Secretary of State for the Environment, Portugal

Does your country face specific problems in relation to waste? If so, which?

In general, Portugal relies on relevant tools, at financial, legislative and planning level, that support the implementation of the main principles ruling waste management, being most of them derived from the enforcement of the Communitarian policies.

In this context, we have obtained fairy good results from waste planning, from the application of the Extended Producer Responsibility Principle (“EPR” Principle) to several waste streams (for instance end of life vehicles, used tires, used oils, packaging and packaging waste, waste from electric and electronic equipment) as well as from the creation of the necessary infrastructures for providing the hazardous waste treatment in the national territory, thus ensuring compliance with the principles of self-sufficiency and proximity by holding an integrated and adequate network of waste recovery and disposal facilities.

However, we are aware that some areas are still not so consistent, thus requiring further work and reflection, both internally and/or at European level.

We foresee some problems for the attainment of the target set for 2016 in the landfill directive (related to the diversion of biodegradables from landfills) and we also expect to have some problems with recycled materials as a result from the fall in their demand at international level.

The need to supervise and control shipments of waste to third countries is another issue requiring additional attention in order to avoid illegal movements of waste (and namely of hazardous waste).

Regarding the implementation of prevention actions, we are presently developing a national Prevention Programme that will provide us a realistic and integrated vision of this management operation (who is first in waste hierarchy), although a priori we fear that the increasing on consumption is not in our favor.

In your opinion, what, today, are the main political challenges facing waste in Europe? Regarding conservation of the environment, developing cost-effective systems, recycling, etc.

Political European challenges related to waste, are mainly associated to issues that can lead to market distortions such as those dealing with the distinction between by-products and waste as well as the specification of the “end of waste criteria” (this last one dealing with compost and to Refused Derived Fuel”).

Another challenge that Europe is facing nowadays is the fail in demand for recyclate materials. In fact, the European Union has developed major efforts to divert waste streams from landfills and to increase environment awareness among consumers. The challenge relies on ensuring that the present difficulties within the recycling industry will not compromise Member-States from attaining, in due time, recycling targets and at the same time maintain the acquired levels of public participation and involvement on separate deposition of waste for recycling.

Last couple of years were characterized by the publication/implementation of several pieces of environmental Communitarian legislation, some of which on waste management, supported on environmental strategies; as a result, policy integration is an ongoing process with an increasing importance. Waste prevention strategies must be consistent in the context of a broader environmental policy and be harmonized with other strategies as the ones related to the sustainable use of the natural resources, to the sail protection and to the green public procurement.

Taking into account the need to increase EU self-sufficiency on fuel supply, we believe that the
production and use of RDF as well as the use of edible oils as fuel, will become, at short term, one
of the main political challenges and opportunities. In that sense it will be important to work at EU level on these issues, namely in the end-of-waste status for RDF.

What is your view on the implementation of the framework directive on waste in Europe? Generally as well as in your country, for comparison purposes?

The revision of the waste framework directive was oriented in the sense of contributing both to a better regulation and to the simplification of legislation, and so, drawn up in line with the purpose of avoiding duplication of reporting obligations to the European Commission and of harmonizing approaches and targets among Member States.
Emphasis was given to the importance of carrying out waste management operations taking into account the protection of the environment and human health, to the need to update general rules that were applied since 1975, namely by introducing the EPR principle along with traditional ones (precautionary proximity, self-sufficiency, polluter-pays), to the waste hierarchy and to the need to harmonize, into the same piece of legislation, different approaches that were adopted for specific waste streams during the last decade.

As the new waste framework directive (Directive 98/2008) is supposed to be incorporated into national by the end of 2010, it is still somewhat premature to state our views on its implementation; however, it presents a good opportunity for Member States to reflect on issues that have caused some problems in the past due to lack of harmonization, such as the ones related to the declassification of waste. In fact, the clarification of what is a waste and a by-product and at what stage do we reach an “end-of-waste status”, are matters of extreme importance and with a significant impact in the functioning of the internal market.

The awareness of this fact, made us plan some actions, of which we stress the creation of a task force responsible for coordinating and monitoring a project focused on establishing a methodology allowing to distinguish between a waste and a by-product, that is meant to be applied to a set of industrial sectors and afterwards, validated. In parallel, the Portuguese Environment Agency launched the elaboration of a study on the cost-benefit analysis derived from the new waste framework directive that will discriminate the kind of measures and actions that must be implemented as a means to guarantee coherence and harmonization between horizontal and sectoral legislation on waste management as well as to identify opportunities for economic actors. Finally, we closely follow the developments made in the approach of “end of waste status” at comitology level, mainly supported by case-studies developed by the Joint Research Centre (JCR).

Regarding the compliance with recovery targets set for 2020 for household and for construction and demolition waste, an effort must be made in the sense of reaching a common understanding on what is under the scope, and on the adoption of a common methodology for sampling and for calculating those targets.

According to you, how could the waste practices in a particular country in Europe fit in with the global European policy?

Though European Union legislation aims at harmonizing obligations, procedures and practices among Member States, under the subsidiarity principle, there is still some room for them to adopt individual decisions.
In this context, Portugal is promoting the definition of additional standards for waste management operations (namely composting), that will be adopted all over the country in an harmonized way. The protection and the sustainable use of the soil also requires the development of standards to support further European strategies and policies.

The implementation of management legislation for construction and demolition wastes, the promotion of the public awareness and the implementation of the EPR Principle on waste streams which are not yet covered by Communitarian legislation (for instance used tires), are other examples of how Portugal contributes to the improvement of the environment and public health.

The example of the construction and demolition (C&D) waste stream is a rather important one, due to the fact that, under the new waste framework Directive, Member States must achieve by the year 2020, recovery targets for its non hazardous fraction and right now there is no definition for this waste stream except the reference to the European waste list.

In Portugal, we have developed a legal framework for the management of C&D waste bearing in mind the need to make a bridge with other obligations laid down in the national legislation ruling construction work activities (for instance a legal association between the works administrative acts - works licensing- and the way how C&D waste management was planned and therefore implemented) and also the minimization of bureaucracy, namely by exempting from licensing procedures some activities such as sorting and shredding if carried out at the work place.

Pdf version

Mr. Miko Ladislav

Diane — 2009-12-02T14:11:17Z

Minister for the Environment, Czech Republic.

As Minister for the Environment, how do you rate the issue of waste as part of the policy that you deploy in your country?

The issue of waste management is an integral part of environmental policy, especially in relation to the aspect of sustainability. The Czech Republic emphasizes a life-cycle system of product management, i.e. the recovery of the product at the end of its lifetime, in accordance with the EU waste management policy.

Does your country face specific problems in relation to waste? If so, which?

At the present time, the Czech Republic is faced with problems associated with reducing landfilling of biodegradable wastes. Consequently, we are preparing steps to improve the situation and, in this process, are utilizing the potential offered by the Operational Program for construction of technology for the recovery of waste.

In your opinion, what, today, are the main political challenges facing waste in Europe? Regarding conservation of the environment, developing cost-effective systems, recycling etc.

Similar to the rest of the world, under the conditions of the present economic crisis, Europe is confronted by its consequences, i.e. the crisis in selling secondary raw materials. Consequently, it is necessary to create preconditions to promote the production of products made from secondary raw materials in the long term, both at the level of the bodies of the environment as well as in the individual Member States.

What is your view on the implementation of the framework directive on waste in Europe? Generally as well as in your country, for comparison purposes?

It is anticipated that the Framework Waste Directive will be transposed by the end of 2010.
This is a very complicated implementation process concerned with a number of areas that have been problematic for a long time, such as the concept of the definition of waste. In addition, a number of new definitions appear, such as a generally valid definition of recycling. The regulation defines energy recovery of waste and emphasizes the extended responsibility of the producer. Consequently, new approaches in waste management require careful preparation by all the Member States.
The Czech Republic is preparing new waste legislation to reflect the obligations following from this Framework Directive. Consequently, we are currently holding intensive discussions amongst the individual sectors and also meetings with stakeholders.
As far as I am aware, similar processes to those in the Czech Republic are also taking place in other countries and most of them view the timetable for completion of transposition by the end of 2010 as a difficult condition to fulfill.

According to you, how could the waste practices in a particular country in Europe fit in with the global European policy?

We are aware that the individual countries have specific characteristics in the area of wastes. However, in any case, it is necessary to work on the implementation of a hierarchy in waste management in each country. All the measures should lead to savings of natural resources, protection of the climate and concern for the health of the population and all the steps taken in the area of control of waste management should be directed in this sense.
The new Framework Directive creates new scope for establishing end-of-waste criteria and criteria for side products. The Czech Republic anticipates increased activity of the European Commission in creating these criteria, in the preparation of which it is also actively participating.

Mrs Paula Lehtomäki

Diane — 2009-12-02T14:09:22Z

Minister for the Environment, Finland
In your opinion, what are the real risks in regard to waste?

To me, this question about waste is important and decisive, directly linked to the issue of climate change, and a collective and individual concern. It should make us reconsider some of our daily actions. In general, the major challenge for us is to successfully increase and promote the notion of eco-design, improving product efficiency for what we design, manufacture and use. This means we must be capable of manufacturing more by using less, finding new ways of designing and manufacturing and producing less waste. As a whole, this design circle contains aspects worth looking into. In other words, we must avidly work to decrease waste and simultaneously develop ever-more efficient recycling industries.

Do you find the waste framework directives in France efficient?

Globally, this directive proposes many objectives which I find challenging … but it’s good to be challenging in this matter! The scheduling appears rather tight, but in fact nothing can be too fast in our present situation. If Europe didn’t set the tone, certain Member Countries would certainly slow down their efforts. Personally I am very favourable to the ideas mapped out in this text, even if we must modestly admit that here in Finland, we’re far from the proposed target. There is a long road ahead of us. For example, we want to limit our dumping flow to 20%, but today we are only at 50%. We are fully aware of the huge efforts we’ll have to make …

What is Finland’s specific problem regarding waste?

Our specificity is the low density population which results in known difficulties. The risk is we must either create many treatment plants or, generate more waste transport. We must find equilibrium. To reduce our landfills, we must recycle more – that’s the most important. It’s obvious we must also develop waste usage for energy production. Our major priority is to install several incineration plants, but there are still many reserves in regard to this energy industry. However, being in a country with basically none, we have to start somewhere! Even if we don’t promote this solution as being our ideal, we know it is essential for Finland. So for now we have several incineration plant projects underway. There will undoubtedly be some resistance but we’ve made real efforts to have an open dialogue with interactive and transparent information exchanges which makes us feel confident as to the public reactions.

Do you follow what’s going on in other countries in Europe?

Our territorial specificity makes it difficult to copy other experiments carried out elsewhere, but we still keep a close eye on everything happening in Europe, especially where conditions seem similar to our own. Today we are very active concerning incineration matters, which doesn’t mean we want to neglect other treatment methods such as prevention and recycling. Conferences such as this one at La Baule are always constructive, allowing us to exchange experiences, and to explore other problems. Personally, in this sort of meeting, I’m essentially looking for innovative methods or suggestions regarding eco-design.

Pdf version

Mr Gediminas Kazlauskas

Diane — 2009-12-02T13:59:45Z

Interview with M. Martin BURSIK, Minister of Environment, Czech Republic

Minister for the Environment, Lithuania
As Minister for the Environment, how do you rate the issue of waste as part of the policy that you deploy in your country?

Waste management is a priority area of environmental protection in Lithuania. Considerable progress has been made in this area in recent years. A legal base for waste management meeting the European Union’s requirements has been developed. Ten regional waste management systems are being developed to create an efficient municipal waste management system in Lithuania. Regional landfills for non-hazardous waste are being built. Eight of 11 regional landfills for non-hazardous waste planned to be built are already being used and three more are currently under construction and are planned to be opened this year. A new regional waste management infrastructure (bulk waste collection sites, green waste composting sites, loading stations) is being developed and over 800 landfills (waste disposal sites) that do not meet environmental and public health safety requirements are planned to be closed. An efficient hazardous waste management system ─ collection and recycling of hazardous waste ─ is under development (four regional hazardous waste management sites have been arranged, there is an operational system for the treatment of soil, sludge and water contaminated with oil and oil products). A hazardous waste incineration plant and a landfill for hazardous waste are planned to be arranged by 2010. A regional sludge and other biodegradable waste management system is being developed. A product and packaging waste management system based on the principle of responsibility of the producer or importer is being created in order to implement the polluter-pays principle.

The following strategic waste management objectives have been set upon evaluating the current waste management situation in Lithuania in order to create an efficient waste management system:

to ensure the universality, quality and accessibility of public municipal waste management services by the end of 2009 (the principle of universality is deemed to have been ensured when public municipal waste management services are provided to at least 95 percent of people in the municipal area. In 2008, municipal waste management services were provided to 80.3 percent of Lithuania’s population);
to dispose of non-hazardous waste only in regional landfills for non-hazardous waste that meet the European Union’s requirements no later than from the middle of 2009 (8 of 11 regional landfills planned to be built are already operating in Lithuania);
to close all landfills that do not meet environmental and public health safety requirements by the end of 2011;
to develop required municipal sewage sludge management capacities in Lithuania by 2013;
to recycle or otherwise recover at least 50 percent of municipal waste by 2013.

Does your country face specific problems in relation to waste? If so, which?

Lithuania is not as experienced in waste management was the old-timers of the European Union. We are not only developing an efficient waste management system but also have to eliminate the consequences of improper waste management in the past: hundreds of landfills that do not meet environmental and public health safety requirements, pesticide waste and areas contaminated with them, waste at bankrupt companies, and pollution in former military areas. We are glad that most of these problems have been or are being successfully solved. A total of 3,280 tonnes of pesticide waste were taken from 117 warehouses in 40 Lithuanian municipalities, transported to Germany and decontaminated in 2002-2005. A past pollution management project financed by the EU Cohesion Fund and the national budget of the Republic of Lithuania is being implemented in order to manage pesticide fire sites, a pesticide waste burial site as well as collect and treat hazardous waste stored at bankrupt companies. Hundreds of landfills that do not meet environmental and public health safety requirements are being closed using EU Cohesion Fund and 2007-2013 EU structural support funds.

In your opinion, what today, are the main political challenges facing waste in Europe? Regarding conservation of the environment, developing cost-effective systems, recycling etc.

Lithuania, just like other countries, is currently concerned about the obvious impact of the present economic situation on the waste management sector. This is particularly relevant to our country, because we do not have deep-rooted waste sorting traditions. Therefore, troubles with the system of collection and sorting of secondary raw materials may strongly reduce public confidence and willingness to participate in the sorting of waste.

In our opinion, measures taken by member states to carry out waste management tasks set for them and help the waste management sector may not suffice. Therefore, we have asked the European Commission to continue a recycling market analysis and suggest specific political measures that would help solve the problem of decreased demand for secondary raw materials as soon as possible. It would also help avoid instability in case of a crisis in future. According to the results of the Commission’s recycling market analysis, short-term measures that would help coordinate the actions of member states in shaping a positive public opinion about waste recycling should be considered without delay in order to retain the developed waste management capacities and carry out set tasks.

The main waste management policy objectives of the European Union - to avoid waste generation as well as promote reuse, recycling and other forms of recovery of materials and products in order to reduce the negative impact on the environment and human health - are relevant to each EU country. Waste prevention has been the key objective of the policy of each country and the European Union for years. Unfortunately progress made in the implementation of this objective so far is insufficient. We are glad that the European Commission intends to create a system of exchange of information on the best waste prevention practices and prepare guidelines intended to help member states in preparing national waste prevention programmes.

We approve of the long-term objective of the EU to become a waste recycling society seeking to avoid waste generation and using waste as resources. We believe that if criteria for classification or non-classification of waste as waste and minimum technical waste treatment standards were established at the EU level, it would be easier for member states to solve arising practical waste management problems.

What is your view on the implementation of the framework directive on waste in Europe? Generally as well as in your country, for comparison purposes?

The new directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on waste is the framework directive in waste management. It repeals three effective directives: on waste, on hazardous waste and on the disposal of waste oils. The new directive simplifies and rationalises legal acts.

Implementation of a more ambitious waste prevention policy, preparation and implementation of national waste prevention programmes is a difficult but extremely important task set in the new directive.

Member states shall ensure reuse, waste sorting, recycling and other forms of recovery. An important task set in the new directive, which we will have to carry out by 2020, is to prepare at least 50 percent of waste paper, metal, plastic and glass and 70 percent of non-hazardous construction and demolition waste for reuse and recycling.

According to you, how could the waste practices in a particular country in Europe fit in with the global European policy?

Most waste management policy decisions must be taken at the EU rather than national level, and vice versa. Successful waste management practices in a particular member state can fit in other member states.

We believe that it is useful to use the experience of member states in preparing recommendations and guidelines for waste prevention on the EU scale as well as establishing criteria for classification or non-classification of waste as waste or for classification of materials or objects as by-products.

Pdf version

Mr Hubert Ferry Wilczek

Diane — 2009-12-02T13:51:32Z

Interview with M. Arunas KUNDROTAS, Minister of the environment of Lithuania

Director of the DREAL (Regional Direction of Environment, Housing and Town and Country Planning) of the Pays de la Loire region

“This 10th edition of Assises des Déchets is a real opportunity for DREAL – of the Pays de la Loire region – to participate in constructive discussions with direct players working in this domain of rapidly-changing regulations: the new European Framework Directive as well as the Grenelle laws 1 and 2. So on behalf of the whole DREAL, I am very happy to renew the State’s backing for this Conference organized at La Baule.

The DREAL was created in 2009 from the fusion of the DRIRE, the DIREN and the DRE, all along the same lines as the Grenelle Environnement and the creation of the MEEDDAT (Ministry for Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and Town and Country Planning). The DREAL has therefore become the deconcentrated division of the MEEDDAT on a regional level. The DREAL network now obviously manages the DRIRE previous responsibilities and is actively involved in preparing the 10th Assises.

Regarding waste management policies, the DREAL relies on the State sovereign solutions, (notably the inspection of classified installations), its role of environmental authority and to promote the good practices with the players involved. This is why the DRIRE worked closely with the Regional Council for the Pays de la Loire region throughout the development of the Regional Plan for Eliminating Hazardous Waste (like the PREDD) and that today the DREAL is the decision-maker regarding any environmental plans of the PREDD or the PDEDMA (Departemental Plans for Household and Similar Waste). This planning issue will be the discussion focus of one of the workshops during these 10th Assises where a number of themes will be assembled related to our concerns.

The wide responsibilities of the DREAL on numerous issed within the MEEDDAT give us a transversal approach of many themes. Regarding waste management issues, all the DREAL actions are completely in phase with these Assises. One of the major strategic focuses for the DREAL is source reduction for pollution and risks – mainly industrial – whether it regards the follow-up of industrial waste, treatment installations or risks connected to the polluted sites and grounds. This action will be visible throughout 2009 by several inspections of classified facilities, in order to check if certain types of treatment installations are in compliance with the new standards (composting, landfills) and to guarantee a decrease of risks linked to various ground pollutions (lead or asbestos) or, to check hazardous waste transfers.

The DREAL is also trying to promote a more economical development method using natural resources: recycling of construction and public work waste will notably be the focus of sustainable management for mineral resources. This will be implemented within our different services and the regional observatory of aggregates. The climate change control policy is also working in the same direction. It relies heavily on energy savings but also on the recovery of new, or rarely-used (up to now) energy sources.

Source reduction, intelligent usage of natural resources, climate change control policies, recovery of new energies … At the heart of waste issues, we must face the large stakes in this serious environmental policy, and even greater stakes for sustainable development.”

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