Bulgaria
Waste Framework Directive: Bulgaria has transposed the WFD into national law by the Waste Management Act, promulgated in SG 53/ 13 July 2012.
Landfill Directive and WAC Decision: Ordinance No 8 on the conditions and requirements for construction and operation of landfills and other facilities and installations for waste disposal and recovery (SG80/13.09.2013).
Packaging Directive: Ordinance on packaging and packaging waste (adopted with CM Decree 271/202012, promulgated in State Gazette 85/06.11.2012.
Ordinance on the treatment of biowaste (Adopted with Council of Ministers Decree № 235 from 15.10.2013, published in State Gazette № 92 from 22.10.2013): Ordinance on separate collection (Adopted with Council of ministers Decree № 275 from 06.12.2013, published in State Gazette № 107 from 13.12.2013).
The National Waste Management Programme for 2014-2020 sets specific measures for the following strategic objectives of waste management:
National Strategy on the Reduction of Bio-waste: There is a National Strategic Plan for the gradual reduction of the amount of biodegradable waste going to landfill
Collection, reuse/refill and recycling targets [BG WMP 2009-2013]: In compliance with the WFD, the following indicative targets for reuse and recycling of municipal waste are set in the new Waste Management Act:
Collection of municipal waste:
Landfilling of biodegradable municipal waste (BMW)
It is a general requirement of the EU Landfill Directive that all Member States have to reduce the amount of biodegradable municipal waste landfilled (BMW). Considering the current level of material and organic recycling of MSW in Bulgaria, exceptional efforts will be required for fulfilling the 50 % recycling target by 2020.
The organization and treatment of waste within the territory of the municipalities is the responsibility of the municipal mayors. Commonly, mayors assign those activities via public procurement.
Municipalities in Bulgaria that build or use a common regional landfill or treatment facility, establish regional associations as legal entities and enter into an agreement with each other on waste management on a regional basis. Table 1 shows the goals for recovery and recycling for Bulgaria per years, set up in National Waste Management Plan
Table 1. Goals for recovery and recycling for Bulgaria per years.
Waste streams |
Year |
Goals Recovery Recycling Collecting |
Biowaste |
|
|
|
2020 |
min. 50% of the quantity of the MSW generated in the region in 2014 |
|
2025 |
min. 75% of the quantity of the MSW generated in the region in 2014 |
MSW – paper, cardboard, plastics, metals and glass |
|
|
|
2018 |
Recycling of min. 40% of their weight |
|
2020 |
Recycling of min. 50% of their weight |
Building waste |
|
|
|
2018 |
min. 55% of the their weight |
|
2020 |
min. 70% of the their weight |
Greece
At a national level, Greece has not yet embedded any certain laws regarding circular economy. Relevant national and regional policies that may contribute to the achievement of circular economy are the following:
The National Waste Management Plan (NWMP) which is oriented to the following milestones for 2020: waste per capita should be drastically reduced, preparation for reuse and recycling with separate collection of recyclables and bio-waste should be applied to 50% of the total of Municipal Solid Waste(MSW); Energy recovery should be a complementary form of management when the margins of all other types of recovery have been exhausted and landfilling should be the last option and should be limited to less than 30% of the total MSW.
Based on the reference framework mentioned above, the policy axes to be addressed by Greece’s NWMP are the following:
The strategies for putting into action the new national waste management policy are the following:
A. Development of an integrated framework for waste management planning which relies on the development of a NWPP, the drawing up of specific national plans, at least for hazardous waste, the revision of Regional Waste Management Plans (RWMP), harmonizing of waste management plans with the national and regional spatial plans, determining the obligation of municipalities to design and implement local decentralized waste management plans in the context of national and regional planning. Finally, the possibility of collaborating only for source-based screening and training between municipalities, social associations and / or alternative management systems where waste is integrated into alternative management.
B. Ensure high protection of the environment and human health by: a) Strengthening - developing the central mechanism for recording and processing waste production and waste management data, in order to ensure traceability from production to final destination, b) developing the appropriate network of waste recovery and disposal infrastructures, c) creating conditions in order to prevent the export of waste, as this entails a significant loss of potential resources and, at the same time, recycling and recovery opportunities in the country, unless there is no corresponding infrastructure in the country.
C. Applying Sorting to Source as the most promising way of collection in order to achieve high-quality recycling by taking the following measures:
D. Rationalization of waste management services costs and promotion of economically and environmentally sustainable investments in the waste sector aiming to introduce a rewarding benefit to the citizen from recycling.
E. Energy recovery - Energy recovery of waste
The concepts of "energy recovery" and "energy exploitation of waste" in the NWMP are defined as “mild” environmental nuisance practices, which based on biological and/or chemical processes produce secondary gases or liquid fuels for energy production. Indicative practices are: biogas recovery from landfills, biogas production via anaerobic degradation, biodiesel production from waste oils, etc.
The strategies adopted according to the different waste streams are the following:
Circular economy is also promoted through the Regional Waste Management Plans (RWMP) which was revised in October 2016 and is in full compliance with the NWMP and which also takes into account the “Closing the loop - An EU action plan for the Circular Economy” COM (2015)614, the goals set by the 2008/98 EC, the National Legislation regarding Packaging and alternative management of packaging and other products (Law 2939/2001, Ministerial Decree 9268/469/2007, Law 3854/2010, & Ministerial Decree 54461/1779/E.103/2013), as well as the National Waste Prevention Plan (NWPP).
The following table presents the overall proposed goals of the Regional Waste Management Plan for Central Macedonia (RWMP-CM) for MSW.
Stream/Type of waste |
Year |
Proposed Goal |
Biodegradable Urban Waste |
2020 |
Reduction of waste resulting in landfills to 35% by weight in relation to production levels in 1997 |
Biowaste |
2020 |
40% of the total weight in a separate collection |
Recyclable materials |
2015 |
Establishment of separate collection for at least paper, glass, metals &plastic. |
2020 |
65% by weight preparation for reuse & recycling at least for paper, metal, plastic and glass |
|
Total MSW |
2020 |
50% by weight preparation for re-use & recycling with pre-qualification |
The RWMP is an integrated waste management plan regarding the waste produced in the region, which identifies the general guidelines for the waste’s management, in accordance with the NWMP and the National Waste Prevention Plan (NWPP), and it indicates the appropriate measures to promote in a hierarchical and combined manner: a) prevention, b) reuse, c) recycling, d) other recovery, such as energy recovery, and e) secure final disposal at Regional level.
In April of 2016, the National Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change (NSACC) was elaborated by the Ministry of Environment. At a more general level, the implementation of the NSACC requires integration of its objectives in the wider context of a transformation strategy for and an innovative and circular Greek economy. Although the EC strategy for a circular economy is primarily concerned with the management and recycling of waste, the NSACC aspires to link the concept of circularity of productive and consumer choices on climate adaptation issues.
An Action Plan for Public Procurement (2016-2020) has been drawn up but hasn’t been put to force yet. and it’s actions include the “Strengthening of Sustainable Development / Green Public Contracts” with the application of certain actions: a) Obligatory observance of environmental law obligations, b) Action plan for Green Procurements and market research, c) Guidance and information regarding the Green public procurements, d) Inclusion of environmental characteristics in technical specifications/ invoices.
As far as biofuels are concerned, the effort lays in the exploitation of the domestic potential for bio-diesel production through energy crops, as well the development of the necessary biomass management networks for energy use. National targets for 2020, according to the National Renewable Energy Action Plan are expected to be met for power generation with the development of about 13300MW from RES (from about 4000MW today), where all the technologies with prominent wind farms are involved with 7500MW, hydroelectric with 3000MW and solar with about 2500MW, while heating and cooling with the development of heat pumps, thermal solar systems and biomass applications.
At regional level, the Region of Emilia Romagna has approved the first law in Italy on circular economy (Law no.16/2015, issued on October 5th 2015). This regional law (formally called “Regulations in support of the circular economy, the reduction of waste production, the re-use of end-of-life-products and waste recycling, and changes to the regional law no.19 of August 19th 1996”) comes out of a bottom-up process involving 60 city councils, 1 provincial council, associations and territories.
According to the circular economy approach, wastes from activities must become “secondary raw materials” for other activities: the regional law pays therefore attention to the whole life cycle of products. Moreover, a link between supply and demand of secondary raw materials will be created, highlighting territorial productive peculiarities.
The fields of actions are three:
The targets set by the regional law are quite ambitious, even higher than those set by the European Union:
These targets will be achieved also through the Regional Waste Plan, approved on May 3 2016, whose tools include:
Information and awareness measures are also implemented. In particular, besides the incentives for information and education activities and the regional communication campaigns, a permanent forum on circular economy has been established.
With regards to by-products, the regional Authority has established a working group with trade associations and the regional environmental control agency in order to make the identification of by-products easier and to promote a market for them. A first result of the group’s activity has been the official regional Register of By-products: so far, 5 datasheets have been provided, containing recommendations for companies (from technical and managing point of view) aiming at supporting them to identify substances or material as by-product:
Another important result coming from the regional law on Circular Economy are the Guidelines for Reuse Centers, that have been shared with the public through a participation and consultation process.
Other relevant regional policies that can contribute to a more circular economy are the following:
Regional Energy Plan: it takes the European targets for climate and energy as drivers for the development of the Region. It aims at enhancing green economy, energy saving and renewable energy and it promotes actions on transports, research and training. Thanks to the Regional Energy Plan, the circular economy principles will be applied also in the energy sector by:
Rural Development Program: it promotes knowledge, innovation and competitiveness of the agro-industry sector, with a special attention on environment and climate and with the aim of supporting the development of the territory and local communities. With regard to circular economy, for example, the program promotes the diversification of farm activities also through energy production from agricultural by-products.
Regional Green Public Procurement Plan: on February 2017, the new three-years Green Public Procurement Plan has been released. The target is to reach 50% of sustainable public procurement. GPP could be one of the most effective incentive to promote transition towards Circular Economy (the minimization of the use of natural resources, the design of more durable products, the recycling/recovery of single components at the end-of-life, etc) GPP is a cross-cutting theme which includes, besides regulations on public contracts, also relevant regulation on environmental protection (i.e. energy efficiency, product/process certification, eco-design).
Last but not least, the ERDF Program and the Regional Smart Specialization Strategy. Sustainable development has been identified as one of the drivers of the Regional S3, where it is meant as “[…] innovation in energy efficiency and new energy technologies, in the waste management and a more rational use of resources, the reduction of harmful emissions into the environment, in promoting sustainable mobility, in the most careful management and exploitation of natural resources also from a touristic point of view […]”. The ERDF Program has a specific priority Axis on Competitiveness of the industrial sector and, considering sustainable development as a cross cutting topic, it has been chosen as the policy instrument for CESME project: in fact, in order to facilitate the access of SMEs to Circular Economy, circularity should be seen as a key factor to improve competitiveness rather than a factor to reduce the environmental impact of the company.
At national level, a new national legislation was introduced in order to promote environmental measures of green and circular economy (Law no.221 issued on December 2015). It implies mandatory requirements for all Italian public entities to include Minimum Environmental Criteria (MEC) in their public procurement actions. The Criteria have been defined by the Italian Ministry of the Environment and cover the most relevant product and service areas for public procurement in Italy. MEC documents provide “Basic Environmental Criteria” (which a public authority must “at least” include in its tenders) and the so called “rewarding” criteria, which aim at a higher level of environmental performance. These are the products and services considered:
Public Administrations are therefore required to use the technical specifications and requirements defined by the MEC in their public procurement tenders in order to promote the purchase of products:
By imposing the MEC, the national legislation has made a key step to promote circular economy since the minimum environmental criteria, if adopted on a large scale, are a key to overcome “linearity” in the approach to production and consumption.
The MEC act simultaneously on several objectives mentioned in the European Action Plan for Circular Economy. They outline requirements for eco-design of products, services and works to which they refer to and “over the entire life cycle”. They represent support measures on the demand side for products characterized by eco-design requirements. MEC outline procedures for a consistent waste collection with the aim to encouraging recycling.
For example, criteria for Building sector focus on actions that contribute to the European objective of recycled/recovered waste; some examples of these actions are the following:
With regards to waste regulation, new legislation about by-products has been recently produced. On March 2017 a new regulation came into force: it identifies criteria that can be used to demonstrate the quality of the by-product (and not waste) of the material. Later, on June 2017, a national register of by-products has been opened, in order to match demand and offer. Any company producing or wishing to use by-products can join the register, which is managed by the local Chambers of Commerce.
Another characteristic of the Italian waste system is the existence of national consortia for several kind of waste. Many type of waste coming from separated collection of urban waste are managed at national level through the system of national consortia (required by law), which set and manage the recovery value chain: plastic, wood, used oil, compost are some of the waste managed at national level through auctions that aim at promoting material recovery.
Denmark
Circular Economy is seen as a key to ensure growth and prosperity by the Danish Government due to the ever-increasing pressure on resources. The Danish government has a clear ambition to increase circular economy in Denmark.
The vision for Danish industry is to reach a global leadership in innovation, implementation and export of circular solutions by 2030. Furthermore, Denmark must be known as a hub for circular economy.
These goals will be reached through:
North Denmark Region who is the partner and the policy holder in the CESME project is a so called ’Climate Region’ in Denmark, which implies very ambitious climate objectives to maintain this position. At the same time the regional SMEs hold a large unrealised potential within this field, which is prioritised in the Regional Strategy for Green Growth, focusing on the regional potentials to further:
On this behalf the Regional Authority expects the following measures within 2020:
Finland
In Finland bioeconomy and clean solutions have a central role in circular economy. The main national policies promoting transformation to circular economy are the Finnish bioeconomy strategy, the current government programme and Finland’s national circular economy roadmap.
The Finnish Bioeconomy Strategy
The Finnish Bioeconomy Strategy highlights the actions required to develop the bioeconomy in Finland (Sustainable growth from bioeconomy, 2014). The Bioeconomy Strategy was drafted in a project set up by the Ministry of Employment and the Economy, and drafting involved participation from the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the Ministry of Finance, the administrative branches under these Ministries, as well as VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra and other relevant bioeconomy stakeholders.
The aim of the strategy was not only to focus on existing and new policy actions to support the growth of a sustainable bioeconomy but also remove obstacles. The key goals of the strategy focus on creating 1) a competitive operating environment for the bioeconomy, 2) developing business from the bioeconomy, 3) creating a strong bioeconomy competence base, and 4) assuring accessibility and sustainability of biomasses. In Finland bioeconomy is seen as an engine of circular economy.
The Finnish Government Programme
The current Finnish Government Programme has allocated 300 million euros for Bioeconomy and clean solutions, which is one of strategic focus areas of the programme (Prime Minister’s office, 2015; 2016). The implementation of Bioeconomy and clean solutions focuses on following key themes:
The projects to be financed within the scope of that focus area have to take circular economy principles into account. For example the implementation of Wood on the move and new products from forest – priority area includes measures which aim at accelerating the introduction of new bioeconomy innovations through pilot projects and innovative public procurement, like for example pilot, demo and reference projects involving the reuse, recycling and other use of byproduct flows and waste from production and consumption. Breakthrough of a circular economy – priority area focuses strongly on water and waste management.
The implementation of priority area includes three main measures: 1) Prepare regulation and other solutions that promote recycling, 2) Increase recycling of nutrients and step up actions to protect the Baltic Sea and other waterways, and 3) Experimental programme in contaminated soil reconditioning and soil recycling. The projects of this priority area focus on promoting material and waste recycling, on removing obstacles from the circular economy and bioeconomy, and on accelerating the adoption of new innovative business models and recycling products.
Finland’s national circular economy roadmap
Finland’s national circular economy roadmap was created in 2016 (Sitra, 2016). The participatory roadmap process initiated by the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra involved several ministries (Ministry of the Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment) and other stakeholders. The aim is to make Finland a world leader in the circular economy by 2025. The roadmap describes the actions and highlights best practices and pilots that can enhance the transformation to a competitive circular economy in Finland. Four key focus areas and assumptions of the roadmap are:
From regional perspective the key circular economy -relevant regional policy initiatives in South Ostrobothnia region include Regional strategy, Seinäjoki region’s climate strategy, Smart Specialisation Strategy, and Environmental Strategy 2014-2020 for South Ostrobothnia, Central Ostrobothnia and Ostrobothnia.
Regional strategy for South Ostrobothnia
Regional strategy is the key guiding policy for South Ostrobothnia. The current strategy sets long-term visions and goals for the regional development (2040) and gives the policy actions for the implementation (Regional Council of South Ostrobothnia, 2014a). The implementation plan is drawn every two years and the work is ongoing for the next phase (2018-2021). In the Regional Strategy circular economy approach is seen as efficient use of (raw) materials, sustainable and efficient processes and production with emphasis on sustainable food systems, use of renewable energy, energy efficiency and logistics.
The current circular economy relevant policy actions focus on 1) Creation of new sustainable and effective solutions for food systems and the bioeconomy, and 2) Development of smart and energy efficient systems, 3) Promoting the use of renewable energy and 4) Applying energy efficient solutions. Circular bioeconomy has a central role in slowing and narrowing down the material loops by increasing resource and process efficiency, by increasing the value of products and by developing new value-added, biobased products. Resource value can be extended for example by industrial symbiosis and other processes, where new products are being developed and produced from side-streams of other processes.
Strategy for Smart Specialisation
Strategy for Smart Specialisation supplements the Regional strategy. The goal of smart specialization strategy is to promote the regeneration of business and ensure future skill requirements in selected thematic business sectors (Regional Council of South Ostrobothnia, 2014b). The thematic areas relevant to circular economy are in line with the Regional strategy and focus on solutions for food systems and the bioeconomy, smart and energy efficient systems and the regeneration of service production. Enhancing smart manufacturing and digitalization, resource efficiency, efficient logistics, and servitization can be seen as prerequisites and elements of circular economy.
Initiatives linked with Smart specialization include 1) Green creative garden - a business development programme for food systems, and 2) Nordic Logistic City – a green logistics centre initiative. Green creative garden initiative was part of a national level Innovative Cities programme for bioeconomy by Ministry of Economy and Employment, and targeted sustainable and effective solutions for food systems (City of Seinäjoki, 2017).
Regional Climate, Energy and Environmental strategies
Seinäjoki region’s climate strategy, Energy and climate Strategy 2014-2020 for South Ostrobothnia, and Environmental Strategy 2014-2020 for South Ostrobothnia, Central Ostrobothnia, and Ostrobothnia give guidance to circular economy related issues from climate and environmental protection perspective. Eight communities were involved in Seinäjoki region’s climate strategy which sets policies on reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and promotes energy efficiency (Seinäjoki region’s climate strategy, 2013). Energy and climate Strategy 2014-2020 for South Ostrobothnia, which is in line with Seinäjoki region’s climate strategy and national climate strategy, aims at GHG reduction (Regional Council of South Ostrobothnia, 2014c).
The circular economy relevant policy measures focus on energy efficiency, energy production and solutions, waste management, forestry and food chain. The strategy promotes narrowing the resource flows by efficient use of primary and secondary materials and waste reduction. Local, distributed energy production and use of bio-based local resources, e.g. agro and forest biomass, manure, non-food and other wastes as energy source are also supported.
The further processing of waste resources and side-streams into more valuable products, such as upgrading biogas to transportation fuels and fertilizers, is also fostered. Related to food chain, the policy actions target resource efficiency by minimizing the food losses and waste within the supply chain, improving the utilization of side-streams in food processing industry and in energy production (e.g. biogas), promoting the sustainable management of nutrients and nutrient recycling, and utilization of locally produced food.
United Kingdom (Wales)
Towards Zero Waste, the overarching waste strategy document for Wales, was published in 2010. Towards Zero Waste effectively sets Wales on a path towards a more circular economy. It re-emphasised the goal of using the equivalent of one planet’s worth of resources by 2050. It established ambitious targets for waste prevention and recycling to help meet the one planet resource use goal. The Welsh Government published its Waste Prevention Programme in December 2013.
We are not aware of any nation that has set a specific resource efficiency outcome or target in respect of achieving a circular economy. However, Wales has set itself the one planet resource use goal for 2050, and this effectively is our resource efficiency goal for a circular economy in Wales.
Towards Zero Waste sets targets for waste prevention and management that are designed to meet the one planet goal. These provide the essential outcome targets that the circular economy approach in Wales needs to achieve in order to achieve the goal of one plant resource use, as follows:
- 27% reduction by 2025 (against a 2006/07 baseline)
- 65% reduction by 2050 (against a 2006/07 baseline)
- 70% by 2025 (with all recycling closed loop or upcycled)
- 100% by 2050 (with all recycling closed loop or upcycled)
- <30% by 2025 (with high energy efficiency)
- 0% by 2050
- 5% by 2025
- 0% by 2050
The Welsh Government has an extensive programme in place to help deliver a more circular economy in Wales. This includes the provisions in the Environment (Wales) Act 2016 to achieve more high quality recycling by businesses and the public sector, the statutory recycling targets set for local authorities (58% in 2015/16 rising to 70% by 2025) in the Waste (Wales) Measure 2010, the £9.5 million grant awarded in October 2015 as core funding of the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) Cymru, the £1.186 million awarded also in October 2015 to Constructing Excellence in Wales for their programme for sustainable waste management in the construction sector, and the £13 million that has been provided to local authorities under the Collaborative Change Programme for them to improve their recycling services.
These programmes will help ensure the consistent supply of high quality recycle from all sources, especially from households, that can then be used by Wales based reprocessors and manufacturers. The programme will also seek to create a greater demand for goods with a high recycled content, and we see sustainable public sector procurement playing a key role here.