THE EUROPEAN WASTE MANAGEMENT SECTOR UNABLE TO EXPLOIT ITS ENERGY PRODUCTION CAPACITY

The European waste management sector has a key role to play in the decarbonization and energy independence of the continent, but is unable to exploit its energy production capacity. This is emphasized by the European Waste Management Association FEAD.

With the European Union member states recently agreeing to a new natural gas demand agreement, recently acquiring a voluntary natural gas demand reduction program, and concerned about the difficulties and impacts on the world energy market caused by the Russian invasion, the private waste management sector has many unfulfilled aspirations.

It is essential for the European Union to get out of its dependence on Russian fossil fuels and to take measures to cure the climate through energy saving, diversification of energy supplies, accelerated deployment of renewable energies in housing, industry and generation. In this case, waste management plays a fundamental role in such management.

Wherever there are economic activities that use natural resources, materials and energy, citizens can contribute to the improvement of the quality of life and reduce the negative impacts of some productive activities. In fact, recycling an aluminum can saves 90% of the energy needed to produce a new one.

Energy recovery plants in Europe can currently supply electricity to 18 million inhabitants and heat to 15.2 million inhabitants. The waste management sector is one that has almost the same effect on CO2 emissions after 2035. Current municipal legislation would have reduced 150 Mt CO2eq, although that could have been much, much more if it had been achieved. This represents almost half of Spain’s emissions in 2019.

In order for the sector to fulfill its role and achieve full capacity building, these positive contributions must be fully recognized, making the waste management sector eligible for any relevant regulatory tools.

Peter Kurth, President of FEAD noted in this regard that “the European waste management sector has a role to play in the decarbonization of our society, avoiding the burning of fossil fuels and the use of virgin raw materials; it has a role to play in promoting a circular economy, through the production of secondary raw materials and the safe treatment of non-recyclable waste; and it has a role to play in the EU’s energy independence, providing energy from a local, reliable and secure source. This essential role must be recognized consistently throughout EU legislation and its requirements must be set out clearly and realistically with a holistic approach.”