We each throw away over 500 kg of waste every year \u2014 yet less than half of that gets recycled. 17 LIFE projects met to discuss ways to boost separate collection, pay-as-you-throw systems, recycling and reuse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The recent 2-day online LIFE Networking Meeting on Municipal Waste Separate Collection and PAYT (Pay As You Throw)<\/u><\/a> brought representatives from the waste industry and waste authorities working in 17 LIFE projects together with European Commission staff. With the EU Circular Economy Act<\/u><\/a> due for adoption later this year, the meeting highlighted practical experiences of improving separate collection, strengthening PAYT systems and boosting the use of secondary raw materials. As Head of Department managing LIFE at CINEA Aneta Willems said, \u2018The shift towards circularity is a challenge worth the effort, and it requires innovation, coordinated efforts and investments\u2019. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Day 1 examined exemptions (known as \u2018derogations\u2019) under the EU Waste Framework Directive<\/u><\/a>; economic incentives such as PAYT systems; and real-world challenges. Discussions on Day 2 shifted to quality and technical challenges such as contamination, material quality and recycling for electronic waste, textiles and biowaste. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The meeting was presented with survey results showing significant differences in derogations for mixed waste not only between Members States, but even among municipalities within the same country. LIFE IP CE Beyond Waste<\/u><\/a> and LIFE IP C-MARTLIFE<\/u><\/a> reported that such exemptions are often justified on the grounds of cost and convenience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Read the full article HERE<\/a> (published by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n