10/01/07
Through its Thematic Strategy on the prevention and recycling of waste the European Commission is giving unequivocal leadership in making Europe a recycling society. 2007 promises to be an important year for waste recovery and recycling.
Central to the Strategy is emphasis on developing protocols through the Waste Framework Directive for determining when “waste” materials have been recovered adequately to be deemed a “secondary raw material” or “product” – the so-called 'end-of-waste criteria'.
The revised Waste Framework Directive is expected to be agreed before the end of 2007. Allied to this is work on the revised Sludge Directive, expected by 2008, where a great deal of activity is likely. In the UK, Environment Agency/WRAP protocols will be developed that will help to determine the end-of-waste criteria for other waste streams.
The water industry is keen to see sludges that are recovered for beneficial use (as in biogas generation, combined heat and power, land reclamation and agriculture) classified as secondary raw materials or products. After all, like others, we are keen to contribute to climate change policy and improve resource efficiency.
Contact: Steve Ntifo
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