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Questions and AnswersExamples from abroad
There seem to be two main factors at work. First other EU countries have a range of economic instruments that drive change. Also there seems to be a different culture in some northern European countries. People seem to have a tendency to have more respect for their local environment and seem more inclined to recycle as a matter of course. The same often apples to dropping litter, which seems to be less of a problem in countries like Austria than it is in the UK. However, it is important to note that intensive recycling has been the norm in many European countries for the last decade or more, so they have a much longer recycling tradition than we do in the UK. A useful comparison of the economic instruments
employed in various countries
It is very difficult to make direct comparisons between countries as waste definitions, e.g. as to what constitutes municipal waste, differ. However the following figures give a broad indication on comparative performance for MUNICIPAL waste management:
We have direct knowledge of Graz, Austria’s second largest city with a population of 250,000. The main industries are mechanical engineering and car manufacture and more than 50% of the workforce is employed in these industries. A crisis was the trigger for action in Graz, leading to a new approach to sustainable development, including waste management. The event that brought about the change was very severe smog that occurred in the winter of 1989, a problem exacerbated by temperature inversions related to the geography of the city. This was the critical point in that everyone recognized that drastic action was needed. The outcome was a new approach to developing a sustainable urban environment based on the following principles:
Historically Graz relied on local landfill. The local landfill site closed in 1985. It was causing severe ground water pollution and extensive remediation works had to be undertaken. A waste management plan was developed based on the following principles:
All premises, including commercial ones, are obliged to separate their waste into bio waste and residual waste although the household and commercial waste systems are not integrated. Communal bins are provided for paper, glass, metal and plastic packaging. Graz claim a municipal waste recycling and composting rate of 59%. Municipal waste volumes are projected to increase from 100,000 tonnes per annum in 1987 to 135,000 tonnes per annum in 2004.
There appear to be two big differences between the UK and Austria. The first is that it is mandatory for people to separate out bio waste which is then collected separately for composting. The second is that people seem to see it as their duty to recycle, rather than as an optional extra that tends to be the case in the UK. Graz’s achievement is however supported by a major community awareness programme and a programme, called Ecoprofit, to support the sustainable development of companies.
As part of the Hampshire Natural Resources Initiative see www.hnri.co.uk we have taken the lead in setting up a European Natural Resources Network to share best practice and expertise and develop joint projects. The focus being on improving business performance in the use of natural resources. Graz is a member of that network and discussions are in hand to develop a special partnership with Hampshire so we can learn from their experience. The MRS team will put suitable case studies of good practice from Europe together as a briefing paper.
We are not sure about the reference to Singapore but a key issue in achieving resource management is maximising the segregation of key resources streams to quality standards suitable for the required after use, be but reuse, recycling or recovery. Often this is best done by segregation at the source, in reality there are practical limits for operational, public participation, technological and cost reasons which restrict the amounts of waste that can be segregated. The aim should be to achieve the maximum segregation possible.
Some comparative recycling and recovery statistics are set down in answer to Question 2 in this section. Project Integra and Hampshire County Council are partners in a number of European Networks looking at sharing information on municipal waste across Europe, so we have access to a large amount of comparative information. We will be pleased to try and obtain any particular statistics that people would like to see. As part of the Hampshire Natural Resources Initiative, Hampshire County Council is leading the development of a European Natural Resources Network to look at sharing information and expertise with a focus on improving business performance in the use of natural resources.. The network is currently in the developmental stages but any specific information needs should be able to be input into the MRS as required.
Graz claim 65% municipal waste recycling, although it is not clear if the definition of municipal waste is the same as that in the UK. |
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