Stakeholder meeting on the functioning of
waste markets within the EU
meeting minutes
16th November 2015, 09am-5pm*
Rue Philippe Le Bon, 3, 1000 – Brussels (conference room 4/56)
Content
Stakeholder meeting on the functioning of waste markets within the EU .......................................1
1
List of participants ...................................................................................................1
2
Agenda ......................................................................................................................4
3
Presentations and detailed minutes ......................................................................5
3.1
Welcome by DG Environment (Peter Wessman) ..................................................... 5
3.2
Introduction (Mike Van Acoleyen ARCADIS) ............................................................ 5
3.3
Your voice in Europe questionnaire (Rob Williams TRINOMICS) ............................ 8
3.4
Introductory presentations by stakeholders ............................................................ 12
3.4.1
ISWA’s view on the major waste market distortions ............................................... 12
3.4.2
Eurometaux’ views on obstacles to movements of waste within the EU ................ 17
3.4.3
EEB’s and ZWE’s views on obstacles to movements of waste within the EU ....... 20
4
General conclusions ............................................................................................ 22
1
List of participants
Pille Aarma
Ali Akdag
Werner Annaert
Piotr Barczak
Richard Barnish
Valentina Bolognesi
Julien Bouyeron
Martin Brocklehurst
Annick Carpentier
Isabelle Conche
Christel Davidson
Nadine De Greef
Nicolas de la Vega
Luigi Della Sala
ministry of environment Estonia
CIRFS, European Man-Made Fibres Association
FEBEM/FEGE, Federation of Environmental Companies, belgium
EEB, European Environmental Bureau
DHL courrier service
Digitaleurope, digital technology industry in Europe
FCD Fédération des entreprises du Commerce et de la Distribution
France
ISWA, international solid waste association
Eurometaux, european association of metals
Eucopro, European Association for Co-processing
Eurocommerce, association for retail, wholesale and international trade
interests
FEAD, European Federation of Waste Management and Environmental
Services
EBA european biogas association
Eurogypsum, Gypsum Industry Europe.
Mark Dempsey
Sandrine Devos
Bianca Drogosch
Manuela Ernst
Rosa Gaspar Ferran
Lorenzo Ferrucci
Maxime Furkel
Magdalena Garczynska
Magnus Gislev
Gunnar Grini
Soeren Grumptmann
Marc Guiraud
Carl Hagberg
Michael Hale
Christian Hartmann
Alain Heidelberger
Michael Heinzlreiter
Chris Heron
Nicolas Humez
Luca Ibelli
Alagonda Elisabeth
Jager
Hendrikus Janus
Svend Erik Jepsen
Mikołaj Józefowicz
Lorena Jurado
Emmanuel Katrakis
Raziyeh Khodayari
Franz Kirchmeyr
Michal Kubicki
Torsten Laksafoss
Holbek
Stijn Lambert
Kristy-Barbara Lange
Krzysztof Laskowski
Hélène Lavray
HP, HewlettPackard
UEPG, Union Européenne des Producteurs de Granulats
VKU, Verband Kommunaler Unternehmen
VKU, Verband Kommunaler Unternehmen
Zero Waste Europe, NGO empowering communities to rethink their
relationship with resources
Food Drink Europe, industry federation
LexMark, creates enterprise software, hardware and services
EAA European Aluminium Association, represents the value chain of the
aluminium industry in Europe
European Commission DG GROW
Norsk Industri, Confederation representing corporate Norway
VDMA, Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbau, German
Engineering Federation
EUCO Light, The European association of collection and recycling
organisations for WEEE lamps and lighting.
Stena Metall, recycles and processes metals, paper, electronics,
hazardous waste and chemicals.
Central Lobby, an independent parliamentary and public affairs
consultancy.
Cambre Associates, Brussels-based integrated public relations and
public affairs consultancy.
Hazardous Waste Europe (HWE), represents hazardous waste
treatment installations in Europe
Next Generation Group (NGR), Design and manufacture of extruders,
shredders, etc for the plastics recycling industry.
Eurometaux, european association of metals
Hazardous Waste Europe (HWE), represents hazardous waste
treatment installations in Europe
Cefic, European Chemical Industry Council
Janus Vaten, condiotioning and sale of new and second use drums and
IBC
Janus Vaten, condiotioning and sale of new and second use drums and
IBC
Confederation of Danish Industry (DI) representing corporate Denmark.
Independent consultant providing private sector clients with advice on
Extended Producer Responsibility
Conseil General de Cambres de Catalunya, Catalonian chamber of
commerce
EuRIC, Confederation representing the interests of the European
recycling industries.
Svenskfjarrvarme, Swedish District Heating Association
Kompost & Biogas Österreich, umbrella organization for five Austrian
compost & biogas organisations.
European Commission, DG Grow
Head Of Office MEP Morten Løkkegaard
Arcadis Belgium
European Bioplastics
Euroheat & Power, international association representing District
Heating and Cooling and Combined Heat and Power sector in Europe
Eurelectric, The association of the electricity industry in Europe
Ulrich Leberle
Ji un Lee Shin
Marc Leemans
Michal Len
Andreas Loukatos
Vagner Maringolo
Natalia Matting
Marcello Missaglia
Christian Monreal
Sarah Mukherjee
Isabelle PACE
Guillaume Perron-Piché
Matthias Pflüger
Adrian Platt
Joachim Quoden
Mitra Qurban
Umberto Raiteri
Rauno Reinberg
Britt Sahleström
Oliver Santiago
Helmut Schmitz
Christophe Scius
Elisa Setien
Arjen Sevenster
Baudouin Ska
Ella Stengler
Jane Stratford
Jane Stratford
Emilie Stumpf
Katarine Svatikova
Andreas Tack
Mike Van Acoleyen
Patrick Van den Bossche
Vincent Van Dijck
Konstantinos Velis
Vanya Veras
Ronalds Vitins
Rebecca Walker
Peter Wessman
Rob Williams
Cepi, industry federation for the European pulp, paper and board
industries.
Umicore, non ferrous metals producer
OVAM, public Flemish Waste Agency
RREUSE, represents social enterprises active in re-use, repair and
recycling.
ETVA, environmental services consultant
CEMBUREAU, European cement association
European Commission, DG GROW
Missaglia e associati, independent consulting
REMONDIS, recycling, service and water company
Veolia, waste management operator
Veolia, waste management operator
Eswet, European Suppliers of Waste to Energy Technology
BDE Federation of the German Waste, Water and Raw Materials
Management Industry
Befesa, technology solutions for industrial waste management
Expra, umbrella organisation for packaging and packaging waste PROs
DP DHL, Deutsche Post DHL courrier service
ERP, European Recycling Platform, implementing regulations on the
recycling of electrical and electronic waste
Republic of Estonia, Ministery of Public Affairs
AI Swedish Recycling Industries' Association
Unesid, union of Spanish steel industry
Der Grüne Punkt, German PRO
Suez Environnement S.A.French-based utility company for water
treatment and waste management
EFCC, European Federation for Construction Chemicals
Plastics Europe, Represents the interest of the plastics manufacturing
industry in Western Europe
FEBEM/FEGE, Federation of Environmental Companies, belgium
CEWEP, represents Waste-to-Energy Plants across Europe.
Defra, UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
Defra, UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
CECED, European committee of domestic equipment manufacturers
Trinomics
WV Stahl, Wirtschaftsvereinigung Stahl , German steel industry
federation
Arcadis Belgium
Agoria, Belgian technology industry federation
ETIRA, European Toner & Inkjet Remanufacturers Association
University of Leeds
MWE Municipal Waste Europe, European association representing
municipalities responsible for waste management
KP Konkurrences Padome, Lithuanian competent authority on
competition
SEPA, Scottish Environment Protection Agency
European Commission, DG ENV
Trinomics
2
Agenda
08h30
09h00
09h15
09h45
10h15
10h30
11h00
11h30
12h00
12h45
14h00
15h00
15h15
Coffee and registration
Welcome by DG Environment (Peter Wessman DG ENV)
- Welcome word
- Situating the study
Introduction (Mike Van Acoleyen ARCADIS)
- Presentation of the agenda
- Presentation of the state of progress
Your voice in Europe questionnaire (Rob Williams TRINOMICS)
- Presentation of the outcome
- questions and answers
Coffee break
Introductory presentations by stakeholders
Martin Brocklehurst, Costas Velis, ISWA
- ISWA’s view on the major waste market distortions
- questions and answers
Annick Carpentier, EUROMETAUX
- Eurometaux’ views on obstacles to movements of waste within
the EU
- questions and answers
Piotr Barczak, EEB
- EEB’s views on obstacles to movements of waste within the EU
- questions and answers
Presentation of the outcome of 3 case studies
- Application of the proximity principle (Mike Van Acoleyen,
ARCADIS)
- Mixed waste collection in Denmark (Rob Williams,
TRINOMICS)
- Polluter pays principle in extended producer responsibility
schemes in France (Stijn Lambert, ARCADIS)
Break for lunch
Presentation of the outcome of 4 case studies
- Incineration taxes in The Netherlands (Katarina Svatikova,
TRINOMICS)
- Landfill failures in Romania (Mike Van Acoleyen, ARCADIS)
- Comingled collection in Poland (Stijn Lambert, ARCADIS)
- Divergent application of Article 18 of the Waste Shipment
Regulation (Peter Wessman, DG ENV)
Coffee break
Open forum discussion
on solutions for distortions in the functioning of the waste markets within
the EU
- Could a “Waste Schengen area” be a solution for distortions caused
by transfrontier shipment provision on intra-EU shipments? What
should be the properties of such a solution? Which waste streams
are to be included or excluded?
- Where could legislation be amended and improved to ensure the
effective functioning of waste markets within the EU?
- How could implementation of existing legislation be improved, e.g.
within Member States; or through Commission guidance where
needed?
- What else could be done to ensure the effective functioning of
waste markets within the EU?
Conclusions and wrap up (Peter Wessman, Mike Van Acoleyen)
End
16h45
17h00
3
Presentations
3.1
Welcome by DG Environment (Peter Wessman)
Situating the study.
3.2
State of progress.
Introduction (Mike Van Acoleyen ARCADIS)
Wrap up conclusions of the first workshop, to be built upon today:

Electronic notification systems for waste shipments would be welcome to lift administrative
burden.

The application of the proximity and self-sufficiency principles causes problems. Guidance
would be useful to ensure a consistent application of the principles.

Guidance on the use of annex VII information forms for shipment of green listed waste for
recycling would be very much appreciated.

The three main policy goals (waste hierarchy, resource efficiency, circular economy) are
supported by all.

Simpler procedures are beneficial both for industry and for inspection.
3.3

Pre Consented Facilities can be a clue to easier compliance with the provisions in the Waste
Shipment Regulation. Existing possibilities in the regulation are not sufficiently used.

Waste is a resource and may be treated as other resources.

The implementation of the Waste Shipment Regulation does not always support or facilitate
more recycling.

Consistency in policy can enhance better waste markets. Helpdesk support for smaller
competent authorities or for Member States with less administrative capacity is a good idea.

Standards for waste treatment operations are needed.

Transparency, good data, good statistics and traceability are needed.

One should take care of balanced planning of waste treatment infrastructure, avoiding overor under-capacity.

We should protect opportunities for innovation.
Your voice in Europe questionnaire (Rob Williams TRINOMICS)
Main results of the survey:
What causes the concerns?

Both EU and national/ regional/ local level legislation

Lack of consistency between Member States regarding the Waste Shipment Regulation,
Waste Framework Directive, End of Waste criteria;

Implementation issues of the Landfill directive,

overcapacities in incineration,

different taxes across Member States,
The main drivers, impacts, regional differences as well as solutions were discussed. For further
information, see the PowerPoint slides.
3.4
Introductory presentations by stakeholders
3.4.1
ISWA’s view on the major waste market distortions
Highlights of the presentation:
Current problems

A lot of resources in Europe and worldwide are lost

Lack of markets for secondary raw materials. This needs to be supported by policy. The Least
cost option is often export (> 50% plastics are exported (mainly to China))

Legal barriers for reuse

There is a need for a level fiscal playing field. Fiscal frameworks on secondary raw materials:
carbon gains are not reflected in market price.
Possible solutions:
Main goal: enhancing competition raw materials & secondary materials, in order to use secondary
raw materials in EU instead of exporting. Need of an EU market.

Framework for investment

Taxation: shift from labor to commodities

Standards for secondary raw materials (e.g. Organics: no standards in comparison with
chemical fertilisers)

Innovation in order to close the loop (legislation alone is not enough)

End of waste criteria definition is a major challenge! It is critical to innovation. Recovered
material cannot be sold as waste  this way it will not get the real value.

Commodity prices: a level playing field is necessary.

Open secondary commodity trading systems need to be in place. Recyclables operate in a
global environment, you cannot address the problems only at the EU level.

Change of fiscality (e.g. in China there is 0% vat on second raw materials)
Reference was made to 6 detailed reports on the ISWA website.
3.4.2
Eurometaux’ views on obstacles to movements of waste within the EU
Highlights of the presentation:
Challenges and proposed solutions to accessing secondary raw materials for metals recovery:

Non-harmonised status of waste and by-products across Member States

Diverging classification of waste

Use of national codes and lack of appropriate code

Burdensome waste shipment procedures

Interaction with other legislation

Proximity principle

Insufficient control and monitoring of illegal shipments of valuable materials embedded in
waste/by-products/end-of-life products
3.4.3
EEB’s and ZWE’s views on obstacles to movements of waste within the EU
Highlights of the presentation:
Current problems

There are currently two markets in competition: waste for recycling and waste for incineration/
landfilling

Should waste be treated as a resource or a failure?

Lack of collection schemes

different qualities of secondary raw materials: lack of quality standards

strong completion on raw material plastics due to low priced oil.

Overcapacities in incineration
Possible solutions
Main goal: to reach a level playing field primary raw materials and secondary raw materials

The obligation to sort waste in the MS

Compulsary collection of biowaste

The use of economic instruments

EC could urge Member States to progressively augment landfill gate fees:

Regular update of BREFS, setting standards at BAT level

Avoid overcapacity of incineration

Ensure the same treatment standard between the receiving and sending country
4
General conclusions
Based on the questions and answers of the different presentations and on the open forum discussion
on solutions for distortions in the functioning of the waste markets within the EU.
1.
The Member State's implementation of the Waste Shipment Regulation and the Waste
Framework Directive is too divergent. This results in obstacles to legitimate and
environmentally desirable waste movements and prevents a level playing field for waste
management industry. Many participants pointed out that the main problem is not the
provisions in existing EU waste legislation themselves, but failures by Member States to
properly implement them. Focus should be on implementing existing waste legislation in a
uniform way and not on changing this legislation.
2.
The most frequently mentioned implementation issues were the waste definition,
classification of waste as hazardous or green-listed, the classification as recovery or
disposal, the waste hierarchy and specific provisions in the Waste Shipment Regulation
(the role of transit countries, pre-consented facilities, too long time-delays for dealing with
notifications, often supplementary requests for information from authorities, the issue of
who is responsible for attaching the Annex VII-document is not uniformly applied) the
provision on more stringent classification when Member States disagree. Proposed
solutions included more guidance and clarification from the Commission; closer
cooperation between Member States and Commission; a clearing house or help-desk to
support common interpretation of the Waste Shipment Regulation and Waste Framework
Directive, as well as electronic data exchange on waste shipments.
3.
The enforcement of the Waste Shipment Regulation and the Waste Framework Directive
is very uneven between Member States; several participants asked for a stronger role for
IMPEL, e.g. with some mandatory requirements for Member States to participate in
IMPEL; a few participants advocated the establishment of an EU waste agency.
4.
Additional harmonisation of waste legislation is needed on certain, specific issues.
Mentioned was in particular Extended Producer Responsibility. Several participants stated
that landfilling should be banned or further measures should be taken to reduce landfilling,
and that separate collection needs to be improved on which issue several participants
urged the Commission to put more pressure on Member States. A fast-track procedure for
dealing with Waste Shipment Regulation notifications should be developed.
5.
End-of-waste criteria, Art 6(2) of the Waste Framework Directive, should be adopted for
certain waste streams. Mentioned were waste tyres. A single decision on end-of-waste
cases, with applicability over the whole of the Union would be appreciated.
6.
Criteria should be adopted for certain waste to be considered as by-products, Art 5(2)
Waste Framework Directive.
7.
Certification of waste facilities within the EU should be implemented to ensure high quality
waste treatment.
8.
Transparency on waste related data and how waste management is funded by the EU
should be improved.
9.
Knowledge gaps should be filled; the gathering of data and the quality of the statistics
should be improved at EU level. An electronic data exchange on waste shipments would
help.
10.
Information and research should be compiled and presented regularly on waste flows,
facilities and prices.
11.
Links with other policy areas need to be examined, especially energy and climate related
aspects as well as product design.
12.
Issues relating to over- and under capacity for waste incineration could be solved by EUwide management of capacities. Over-capacity can attract waste from other Member
States to the detriment of their local recycling market and under-capacity combined with
the proximity principle can lead to more landfill.
13.
The assessments prior to adopting legislative proposals should be improved, policy
measures must be carefully assessed (mentioned was the adoption of the WEEE
Directive, where statistical data and collection rates was not correctly assessed before
adopting latest amendments).
14.
Competition issues relating to local monopolies and exclusive rights should be addressed.