Trinomics in collaboration with ARCADIS Belgium (lead partner) has been awarded a service contract by the European Commission’s DG Environment to analyse distortions of the functioning of waste markets in the EU, resulting from national, regional and local policy and legislation, and to recommend actions to improve the situation. The Communication ‘Towards a circular economy: a zero waste programme for Europe’ is very clear in its initials. The European Union needs a transition towards a circular economy, as a necessary element to guarantee sustainable growth. Environmentally sound management of waste materials, and a non-polluting ethical stance, are not the only driving forces. Resource efficiency and recycling have become necessary tools in guaranteeing future access to raw materials, creating a large potential for growth and job creation in the waste management sector and supporting the overall ambition to sustain growth and competitiveness while achieving circular economy. A well-functioning waste market is key to the enhancement of recycling and to keeping materials in closed loops. The project consists of two major parts:
- Collecting and documenting from literature and through stakeholder input (including public consultation) real or perceived examples of market distortions across EU Member States;
- Checking whether these distortions affect environmental or resource efficiency performance. Only those that do so will be retained for further analysis in the form of case studies.
If you have any questions or comments, don’t hesitate to contact Jeroen van der Laan.
